New Delhi:
A Survey of India panel has informed the Supreme Court that there is no major encroachment in the 68.5-hectare iron ore mine owned by the powerful Reddy brothers of Karnataka.
The apex court had, on March 22, directed the Survey of India to conduct a survey of the Reddy brothers' mine holdings in Andhra and file a report before April 9.
The report says that out of 68.5 hectares only 66 hectares will have to be used for mining and the rest 2.5 hectares for road. But mining is done in all 68.5 hectares.
The Supreme Court has directed the Andhra Pradesh government and Obulapuram mines, owned by the Reddy brothers, to respond to the report and the case will be taken up next week.
Two other mines will be examined by the panel soon.
The dispute:
In Malappanagudi village on the Karnataka-Andhra border, lands of two mines have overlapped leading to a vicious dispute.
Tumti Iron Ore is owned by Tapal Ganesh, a third-generation miner who is 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.