Probe ordered into Obulapuram mining

The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged illegal mining of iron ore and violation of forest laws by the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) in the Bellary reserve forest of Anantapur district.

OMC is owned by tourism minister Gali Janaradhan Reddy who recently attracted national attention by revolting against chief minister B S Yeddyurappa. A decision to probe OMC’s activities was taken by chief minister K Rosaiah at a meeting of senior officials of forest and industries departments held here on Tuesday.

A three-member committee of senior officials of the state forest department has been constituted to probe “all allegations raised” against OMC. It will visit iron ore mines of OMC and other mining companies operating in the area and submit a detailed report within 10 days, the chief minister’s office stated in a press release.

Simultaneously, the press release stated, the industries department would depute senior officials to look into the aspects of alleged irregularities in mining operations and submit a report in 10 days.

OMC has been accused of illegally excavating iron ore in areas not allotted to it. It has also been charged with laying an additional road in the reserve forest area in addition to the existing road without permission.

The issue generated political heat in the state with the opposition Telugu Desam Party demanding a probe into OMC’s activities and the CPI general secretary A B Bardhan announcing to organise a joint fight against the ‘mining mafia’ .

The TDP alleged that the state government had remained a mute spectator to the “illegal” activities of OMC because of Janardhana Reddy’s links with the family of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.