Obulapuram dispute - New twist to mining row

By Shivakumar G Malagi / Jan -2009 Lokayukta N. San tosh Hegde's recommendation to the government that the Centre be asked to investigate the Obulapuram border row has given a new twist to the controversy over alleged encroachment of the state's boundary by neighbouring Andhra Pradesh in the Bellary mining belt. The row involves the Tumati Iron Ore Mines of Karnataka and the Obulapuram Mining Corporation (P) Ltd (OMC), of AP, which belongs to state tourism and infrastructure minister Janardhana Reddy. Tumati Mines was leased land on the inter-state common boundary line and any encroachment of its grounds amounts to an intrusion into the state's border. A forest department surveyor, Dharappa Nayaka had on September 5, 2006 written to his higher-ups about alleged encroachment by the OMC in the Tumati village block. Tumati Mines also complained to the forest department about alleged illegal mining by the OMC in Karnataka's forests. Deputy conservator of forests P Rajashekharan, issued summons on July 4, 2007 to Mr Janardhana Reddy, officer in charge, OMC, asking him to produce an original sketch of the mining area. In his statement of objections dated July 12, 2007, Mr Janardhana Reddy maintained the OMC had obtained the mining lease based on the 1991 inter-state boundary line survey conducted by teams of Andhra and Karnataka. He contended the leased land was about 20 meters away from the inter-stateboundary survey stations.

Lokayukta N. San tosh Hegde's recommendation to the government that the Centre be asked to investigate the Obulapuram border row has given a new twist to the controversy over alleged encroachment of the state's boundary by neighbouring Andhra Pradesh in the Bellary mining belt.
The row involves the Tumati Iron Ore Mines of Karnataka and the Obulapuram Mining Corporation (P) Ltd (OMC), of AP, which belongs to state tourism and infrastructure minister Janardhana Reddy.
Tumati Mines was leased land on the inter-state common boundary line and any encroachment of its grounds amounts to an intrusion into the state's border.
A forest department surveyor, Dharappa Nayaka had on September 5, 2006 written to his higher-ups about alleged encroachment by the OMC in the Tumati village block.
Tumati Mines also complained to the forest department about alleged illegal mining by the OMC in Karnataka's forests.
Deputy conservator of forests P Rajashekharan, issued summons on July 4, 2007 to Mr Janardhana Reddy, officer in charge, OMC, asking him to produce an original sketch of the mining area.
In his statement of objections dated July 12, 2007, Mr Janardhana Reddy maintained the OMC had obtained the mining lease based on the 1991 inter-state boundary line survey conducted by teams of Andhra and Karnataka. He contended the leased land was about 20 meters away from the inter-stateboundary survey stations.