Discrepancy in Reddy mine boundary: Report

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium submitted the report to a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan in a sealed cover. After going through the report, the apex court Bench posted the matter for further hearing for Monday. Appointed under directions of the SC, the probe panel was asked to survey the iron ore mines operated by Reddy’s Obalapuram Mining Corporation (OMC).

While discussing the 68.50 hectare leased area alloted to OMC, the report said: “Considering point No 1 at correct position, the observed traverse (polygon) was superimposed on the sketch traverse (polygon), it is found that observed traverse differs by about 100 to 150 m towards western side.’’

The report, prepared by a team headed by Survey of India Additional Surveyor General Major General A K Padha, said the survey covered only one of the six mines in Anantpur district. The team also informed the apex court that it would need to carry out additional work on the precise demarcation of the mines. “The lease sketches based on which the leases have been allotted to different mine holders have quite appreciable linear and angular misclosures. They need to be revised by the government of Andhra Pradesh,’’ the report said.

On the borders between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, it said that “lease areas are adjoining interstate boundary in Bellary reserved forest. There is a long standing boundary dispute between adjoining states which has to be resolved before demarcation can be started.’’

The interim report is the outcome of a March 22 Supreme Court direction which stalled all mining operations by OMC and two other companies following allegations of encroachment of reserved forest land.

Under these circumstances, the Bench had directed constitution of a team headed by Survey of India officials with other members drawn from the Revenue, Mining and Forest departments.The probe panel was tasked to demarcate the areas of each of the mining companies as per the lease granted to them.