Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 12:  In a virtual rebuttal of the statement issued by state minister Janardhan Reddy on Sunday May 10 that the union government has withheld the order issued by IGP B K Singh of the union environment and forest ministry to suspend the five mining licences on the state's joint border till the joint survey is conducted, the Indian Bureau of Mines has issued an order to conduct a joint survey of the disputed site between 27th and 30th of this month. The joint survey is being undertaken to find out the truth behind the allegation that Obalapuram Mining Company in which the Reddy brothers have a major stake, is indulging in irregularities by extending its mining to locations situated within Karnataka.

The Bureau, which has taken this step in tune with an order of the state High Court, has given the responsibility of conducting the survey to its regional controller here. In his order dated May 7, Mines Control Officer Dr B P Sinha has instructed the said officer to prepare an agenda and send the same for approval. It may be recalled, that the state High Court, which heard a petition filed by T Narayan Reddy, owner of Tumati Mining Company, that Obalapuram Mining Company has been conducting illegal mining in the state, even though it is empowered to conduct mining within Andhra Pradesh state limits alone, had passed an order for holding of the joint survey and filing a report thereof with it by June 8 this year. It also had prescribed that officers, who are higher in position than that of the deputy directors, should be assigned with the job.

The mines and geology department of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and chief forest conservators of both Karnataka and AP have been asked to post suitable officers for the work. Bellary and Anantpur district deputy commissioners have been instructed to depute a revenue surveyor each for functioning in the team that will conduct survey and mark the states borders.  The IBM has also asked the deputy commissioners to take steps to avoid any law and order problems during the survey.