The Supreme Court’s central empowered committee said on Friday that Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by Karnataka BJP heavy weights Reddy brothers, openly flouted several environmental laws and their mining lease must be cancelled.
The Supreme Court’s central empowered committee said on Friday that Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), owned by Karnataka BJP heavy weights Reddy brothers, openly flouted several environmental laws and their mining lease must be cancelled.
Concerned with depleting forest area and soil erosion, the panel recommended cancellation of lease of four mines spread over 140 acres saying that the lease holders have been indulging in large scale illegal mining the forest area of Bellary reserve.
The committee also recommended suspension of all transportation facilities to the four mines owned by Reddy brothers till the inter-state boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in Bellary reserve forest is determined. The state boundaries must be earmarked by permanent boundary pillars, the committee suggested.
The 70-page report also said the lease deed of some of the mines was “illegally extended” by state government officials and in some cases they were extended years after they expired.
The report also criticised the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh for flouting environmental laws. The violation could not have taken place without the connivance of state officials, the report said.
In a 68.5 hectare mine, the panel said, five roads have been illegally constructed in the reserved forest area, outside the approved lease. That’s in violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act.
The committee also found that a mining lease of 39.5 hectare, granted by the Andhra Pradesh government in favour of OMC, “Differed materially from forest area for which the approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act was obtained originally.
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