State Govt suspends mining in Anantapur

HYDERABAD: In a major setback to the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by Karnataka Tourism Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, the State government has suspended mining operations, including transportation of already mined material, in all the six mines, including Reddy’s two mines, in Anantapur district.
The State government’s late-night decision followed a high-level meeting called by Chief Minister K Rosaiah with Mines Minister B Srinivasa Reddy, Forest Minister P Ramachandra Reddy and Chief Secretary P Ramakanth Reddy after it received an advice from the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court that it should take immediate steps for stopping ‘‘illegal mining’’ in all the six mines.
Y Srilaxmi, then Secretary to the Government for Mines, accused of being too lenient on the OMC in granting leases, also attended the meeting since the Chief Minister sought information on various lease agreements.
Under fire from the Opposition parties, particularly the Telugu Desam, Rosaiah acted swiftly on the empowered committee’s advice in an attempt to refurbish the image of the State government and that of the Congress which had taken a battering in the recent past.
Adding to the government’s cup of woes, the empowered committee, set up after one Tappal Ganesh of Bellary district filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking suspension of the mining operations, recently submitted a report to the apex court confirming violation of the Forest Conservation Act and illegal mining in Anantapur district.