The CEC had been ordered to investigate mining activities by the apex court on a writ petition filed by Tapal Ganesh of Bellary, who contended that mining operations were undertaken in violation of the Forests Conservation Act.
Reacting strongly to the report of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on illegal mining in the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border, state tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy, who is also the director of Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC) said, “The CEC report is politically motivated, and has been prepared under political pressure. It has failed to collect evidence against OMC. The recommendations are vague. There are several instances of the Supreme Court not considering the CEC report at all.”
The CEC had been ordered to investigate mining activities by the apex court on a writ petition filed by Tapal Ganesh of Bellary, who contended that mining operations were undertaken in violation of the Forests Conservation Act. The CEC reported that OMC had attempted to cover up illegal mining in unallotted forest areas. The report also scathingly criticised the previous YS Rajasekhara Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh, saying that the fairness and impartiality expected of a state government was lacking.
“This is part of a conspiracy to finish me politically. They have started this after YS Rajashekara Reddy’s tragic death. The Union government and the Andhra Pradesh government are targeting me. I will expose those behind the conspiracy very soon. As per the Supreme Court direction, we will file our objections to the CEC report within 15 days,” Janardhana Reddy said.
“Officials of the Geological Survey of India surveyed the whole mining area and submitted four reports to the apex court, stating that there was no illegality. But the CEC, with a prejudice against us, has yielded to political pressure. Earlier, the same CEC report was quashed by the Andhra Pradesh high court. Now also we will challenge this. I am confident we will come out clean,” the tourism minister said.
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