Miners demand review, redrawing of areas

Some mine owners from Karnataka have demanded that the government review and redraw the mining sketches issued to the various lease holders in the Bellary reserve forest area to end the dispute on any alleged encroachment in the different mining zones.

They also sought a clear demarcation of the undisputed area in the Bellary zone in the wake of the recent Supreme Court interim verdict allowing the Reddy brothers to mine in the undisputed areas.

On Monday, the apex court allowed Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC), promoted by the Reddy brothers, to mine in its leased areas in Ananthapur areas of Andhra Pradesh.

However, it restricted OMC’s operation in the alleged encroachment zone within the Karnataka border.

“There should be a clear demarcation of mining sketches in the Bellary reserve forest area to facilitate hassle free mining operations,” T Ekambaram of Tumti Iron Ore Mines said.

He also said that as there were discrepancies in the sketches provided by the departments of Mines and Geology, and Forest, it should be sorted out before allowing any mining operations.

Earlier, the Survey of India in its report to the apex court recommended that the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka should agree on an interstate boundary in this zone.

Taking note of this fact, apex court has asked both states to erect 10-foot high barbed fencing along the border to prevent miners from transgressing the Bellary Reserve Forest Area in Karnataka.

The apex court had banned mining of iron ore by the OMC on March 22 and appointed a committee comprising of officials from Survey of India, forest, irrigation and revenue department of Andhra Pradesh with representatives of OMC to look into allegations of illegal mining in the border areas of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.