Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Apr 22: On Monday April 20, the state High Court passed orders, directing the Indian Bureau of Mines and Survey of India to conduct a joint survey of the mining areas of Bellary district, to unearth encroachment of mining land if any, at Tumti village on the state's border with Andhra Pradesh. The High Court said, the survey should be conducted in the presence of officials from both the states and that a report thereof should be submitted by June 8.

This order was issued in pursuance of a writ petition filed by a mine owner Narayana Reddy, alleging that a miner from Karnataka had encroached upon his mining area in the state by removing the border stone standing between the two states. The said mines owner, a state minister, had obtained licence from Andhra Pradesh in the name of Obalapuram Mining Company, he said in his petition.

The court directed Reddy not to transport iron mined in the disputed land till a final decision is arrived at. The order was passed by a division bench of the High Court, comprising of Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice C G Sabhahit. The court also asked the forest   department and the department of mines to identify the undisputed lands.