Karnataka nod for demarcation of border with AP

With the increase in illegal mining in the border areas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the state cabinet has authorised the Survey of India (SOI) to demarcate the borders between the two states.

“Amidst an increase in illegal mining on the borders of the two states, the cabinet has authorised the SOI to demarcate the borders,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters here today.

There is a boundary dispute between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the border of Bellary taluk of Bellary district of the state and Rayadurga taluk of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, the minister said.

In October last year, Revenue Ministers of both the states held a meeting against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s direction to fix the disputed boundary in Bellary. However, the survey of Karnataka-Andhra border was completed by SOI in 2012 itself.

In its report to the apex court, a panel headed by an Additional Surveyor General of Survey of India (SOI) had said, both the state governments have given mine leases on either side of the boundary as per their interpretation of inter-state boundary which is a matter of dispute between adjoining holders.

The report had also said, some of the lease boundaries fall on the inter-state boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and there are many discrepancies in the boundary of six mines which can be measured only after demarcating the state boundary.

The cabinet, which met till late last night, also decided to erect Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Vidhana Soudha premises at a cost of Rs 6.85 crore, Jayachandra said. Jayachandra also said government has sent a proposal to the Centre to grant Scheduled Tribe status to Kaniyan, Kaniyar and Kanisan communities, mostly residing in Kollegal area.

It also decided to create 990 posts to be filled in all the city corporations across Karnataka, he said.

The cabinet approved a proposal for issuing “hakku patras” (title deed) to eligible persons under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, Jayachandra said.