SC gives 4 weeks to SGI to determine K'taka-AP boundary

The Supreme Court on Monday gave four weeks’ time to the Surveyor General of India (SGI) for completing the task relating to determination of inter-state boundary between iron-ore rich areas in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in the Bellary-Hospet region.

A three-judge green bench headed by Justice J S Khehar allowed a plea by the SGI after the counsel submitted that the work could not be finished in this regard.

The court sought a status report from the SGI within four works.

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO Samaj Parivartan Samudaya, contended that important landmarks on the boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka were removed at the instance of mining baron and former Karnataka minister G Janardhana Reddy.

In an interim report, SGI Dr Swarna Subba Rao had earlier informed the apex court that the field inspection which was to take place between April 13 and 17 could not be undertaken as the district officials were “awfully busy” in view of parliamentary elections in Karnataka on April 17.

On the request by both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the Green Bench had on April 18 last year directed the SGI to intervene to resolve the boundary dispute.

The order was necessitated in view of the CBI investigation into alleged illegalities by Obulapuram Mining Company and others in extracting iron ores in Bellary and the surrounding areas.