SC Stays Further Mining Activities by Reddy Brothers’ OMC
Giving a jolt to Andhra Pradesh’s mining barons Reddy brothers, the Supreme Court has stayed all further mining activities by the Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC) owned by them, said media reports.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan and Justice Deepak Verma appointed a committee of experts which will be heading by the Survey of India to looking into mining areas and determine charges of large-scale encroachment of reserve forest areas allegedly by the powerful mining lobby, said reports.
Conceding two-week’s time to the committee for filing of the report, the bench said that no mining activities would be allowed at the site until further orders.
In addition, the apex court issued notices to the Reddy brothers on the Special Leave Petition (SLP) moved by the Andhra Pradesh government, said reports.
The plea challenges the February 26 state High Court order which dismissed the cancellation orders passed by the state.
Attorney General G E Vahanvati argued that in the said order, the High Court overlooked the findings of the Centreal Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court and that of the high level inquiry committee constituted by the state government, reports said.
In their independent inquiries, the two committees had concluded that the Reddy brothers grabbed many hectares of reserve forest areas in the state.
The Supreme Court said the committee headed by the Survey of India would also include members drawn from the state department of Forest, Mines and Revenue, said reports.
(Based on internet reports)
