MOEF to conduct survey of mining region

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Environment and Forests on Friday told the Supreme Court that it will conduct a survey in six weeks to demarcate boundaries of various mining companies in Anantpur mining region bordering Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The submission was made during a hearing of a petition filed by Bellary Iron Ores Pvt Ltd chairman S K Modi who had sought a direction to the Ministry to conduct the survey within a time frame.

The Ministry had on April 22 issued a notification suspending mining operations of around five companies including Obulapuram Mining Company Pvt Ltd (OMC) owned by Karnataka minister Jannardhan Reddy.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan disposed of Modi's petition after MoEF Counsel Haris Beeran submitted that the survey will be conducted within six weeks.

Modi alleged some mine owners had been carrying out illegal mining in the areas that adversely affected the ecology of the region.

Both Obulapuram Mining Company and Bellary Iron Ores are fighting against each other for a piece of extra mining area in Anantpur district.