New Delhi:
The Supreme Court on Monday extended the stay on mining activities by Bellary's Reddy Brothers in Andhra Pradesh. The court also directed the Survey of India (SoI) to probe allegations of encroachment in two mines owned by the Reddys, and submit a report by April 22.
Earlier, an SoI panel had cleared s the Reddys' 68.5-hectare iron ore mine, saying there was no major encroachment. It said that of the 68.5 hectares, only 66 hectares are supposed to be used for mining. The remaining 2.5 hectares are for roads, but all 68.5 hectares are being used for mining.
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.
Earlier, an SoI panel had cleared s the Reddys' 68.5-hectare iron ore mine, saying there was no major encroachment. It said that of the 68.5 hectares, only 66 hectares are supposed to be used for mining. The remaining 2.5 hectares are for roads, but all 68.5 hectares are being used for mining.
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.
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