SC Extends Stay on Mining Activities by Reddy Brothers
The Supreme Court has extended stay on mining activities by Reddy brothers of Bellary, said media reports.
The court also instructed the Survey of India (SoI) to look into charges of encroachment in two mines owned by Reddys and to file a report on it by April 22, reports said.
An SoI panel had earlier given clean chit to the Reddys’ 65.5 hectare iron ore mine, observing that it didn’t encroach upon any land.
Besides, it said that out of the 68.5 hectares, only 66 hectares are supposed to be used for mining while the remaining 2.5 hectares are for roads.
However, all 68.5 hectares are being used for mining.
It may be mentioned that the lands of two mines, situated in Malappanagudi village on the Karnataka-Andhra border, have overlapped leading to a vicious dispute.
Tapal Ganesh, owner of Tumti Iron Ore and a third generation mines, has been fighting a battle against Obalapuram Mining owned by the Reddy brothers – Janardhana and Karunakara.
Ganesh’s mine lies on the Karnataka side of the border while the Reddy brothers’ mine is on the Andhra side – both adjoining.
In November 2009, K Rosaiah, the new Andhra Chief Minister suspended all mining leases that the Reddy brothers held in his state. The Reddys challenged this in the Andhra High Court and won.
The Andhra Pradesh government then challenged this decision in the Supreme Court.
