Gali mining: SC slams Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh governments on borders
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments for not taking steps to demarcate the boundaries of the two states for the purpose of mining.
A Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta hearing petitions relating to Obulapuram Mining Company and others told counsel for the states “We had passed orders in 2010 to demarcate the boundaries. What had been done from 2010. We are trying to protect our borders. But within the states boarders are not safe neither state is interested.”
In 2010 the apex court suspended the mining licence of six companies including Gali Janarthan Reddy’s Obulapuram Mining Company and directed Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to demarcate the inter-state boundaries with the help of Surveyor of India. It was alleged that the mining companies were doing illegal mining and the mines were spread between the two states — AP and Karnataka.
On Monday on behalf of the Centre, it was informed that three meetings were held for the demarcation purpose and another meeting is expected in the last week of this month and said the exercise would be over by August 31.
Justice Lokur observed “We are surprised that Andhra Pradesh hasn’t taken any interest for a long time and Karnataka is not even represented by its Lawyer and it is worse. We will take up the case on July 27 to know the outcome of the meeting convened by the centre with AP and Karnataka.”
By an order dated May 10, 2010 the Supreme Court allowed the Reddy brothers to start mining in the undisputed area “which neither falls in Karnataka nor abutting the Karnataka boundary.” The court did not permit mining operations in those areas, which according to the base map “falls within its lease area but may be falling in the leased areas of other leases.” The court directed the SoI to put a temporary fence at Karnataka border as per the base map and granted two months time to complete the process of demarcation.
In its report the SoI said the approved mining leases of the Reddy brothers in the Obulapuram mines in the reserve forest areas bordering the states of Karnataka and AP are at variance with those appearing in the old sketches available in the records.
