The bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices Deepak Varma and B S Chauhan asked: “How much time would you take to complete the survey?’’ Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, appearing for Andhra Pradesh government, said the team would take about three months to complete the survey. The court then adjourned the matter for a detailed hearing for Tuesday.
Appearing for Obulapuram Mining company owned by Reddy brothers, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the court should decide the case on the basis of the report. “The court should read the report and it should go by the report,’’ he said during the preliminary argument on the report which was submitted last week.
In its seven-page report submitted to the apex court, the committee headed by Maj Gen A K Padha, Additional Surveyor General of Survey of India (SOI), said: “Though the interstate boundary between these states is already demarcated on latest Survey of India map, both governments have not agreed to this boundary.’’
‘’Both governments have given mine leases on either side of the boundary as per their interpretation of interstate boundary which is a matter of dispute between adjoining holders,’’ said the report seeking direction to the Union Home Ministry, Chief Secretaries of both States to facilitate demarcation of boundary.
The report said some of the lease boundaries fall on the interstate boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The panel has sought ban on mining activities in the region till the demarcation work was over for the smooth movement of the officials and staff. The report has said that there are many discrepancies in the boundary of six mines which can be measured only after demarcating the state boundary.
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