Karnataka minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy suffered a severe jolt on Thursday after the Supreme Court stayed an Andhra Pradesh high court order that permitted mining and transportation of iron ore by Obulapuram Mining Company Private Limited (OMC) owned by him.
The stay, however, will be effective till the apex court resumes work on January 4, after an 18-day Christmas break. A bench headed by Chief justice KG Balakrishnan on Thursday declined to entertain a plea by the Anantpur based OMC that no order be passed until the matter is heard on January 4.
“How can the whole matter be disposed of with an interim order,” the court asked while referring to the HC direction facilitating the influential businessman’s mines.
The Andhra Pradesh government had restricted OMC’s operations after it found the OMC violating environmental protection laws and the forest conservation legislation. But the HC, in its order, allowed the OMC to operate. The state government then challenged the HC order in the apex court.
A commission for environmental cooperation (CEC) set up by the SC had recommended immediate ban on illegal mining on the Andhra-Karnataka border.
The CEC also probed the allegations of massive violation of environmental laws by the owners of OMC owned by Reddy brothers of Bellary in Karnataka.The CEC report stated that the state functionaries were trying to cover up illegal mining by OMC in areas outside those approved in mining lease claims. The panel also raised doubts on late YS Rajasekhra Reddy government’s attitude towards the mining baron saying “the objectivity, fairness and impartiality expected from a state government is shockingly lacking here and doesn’t inspire confidence.”
“There are substantial differences and serious discrepancies in the mining lease boundaries determined and those fixed now by the state forest department,” CEC had said.
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