Daijiworld Media Network - Bellary (SP)

Bellary, Jul 17: A team comprising of the officials of Indian Bureau of Mines, Survey of India apart from Karnataka government’s revenue and forest department officials, started the survey of the mining areas in the district on the state's border with Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday July 16.

The survey is being undertaken as per the orders of the state High Court. The need for the survey was felt because of complaints made by various miners about the alleged irregularities committed while conducting mining. Several mining companies have alleged that Obalapuram Mining Company, of which minister G Janardhan Reddy is one of the directors, had encroached upon the border of Karnataka with Andhra Paradesh. The company has permission to undertake mining only in Andhra Pradesh. The survey began at Tumati village on the state's border.

Dr B B Sinha, a union government official, who is heading the team, told the reporters that as far as the team is considered, it was a matter of dispute between two mining companies and not states. He expected the survey work to be completed in two days.

The police personnel were present in full strength to face any resistance. Tahsildar Venkatesh, deputy conservator of forests Muttiah, district Congress Committee president M Diwakar Babu etc were present during the survey.