Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

‘Explain powers in halting mining’

HYDERABAD: A Division Bench of the High court comprising Justice T. Meena Kumari and Justice P. V. Sanjay Kumar on Friday asked the State government to explain about the powers it had in asking the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) to stop its mining activity.

The Bench was dealing with a writ petition filed by OMC director B.V. Srinivas Reddy. The petitioner was challenging GO 723 issued on November 25 asking all the six mining companies to stop their operations in Anantapur district. It may be recalled that the State government issued these directions after the Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court had finalised its report on the alleged illegalities in Anantapur district.

The petitioner contended that the report of the CEC was not a statutory order in the eyes of the law and maintained that the GO issued by the State government was illegal.

The petitioner contended that they had many leases and the controversy was with regard to just one lease area and there was no justification in stopping the mining activity in areas covered by other mining leases.

The petitioner expressed readiness to deposit a reasonable amount with the government to continue the mining operations in the areas covered by such leases where there was no controversy. The Bench adjourned the matter to Monday to facilitate the government file a counter-affidavit.

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