Close on the heels of the report it submitted to the Supreme Court on November 19, the Central Empowered Committee has advised the Andhra Pradesh government to stop iron ore mining in all the six mines in Anantapur district.
In a letter to Chief Secretary P. Ramakanth Reddy on Monday, CEC member M. K. Jiwrajka said, “You are advised to stop mining operations, including transportation of already mined material, from all the six mines dealt with in the CEC’s report”.
The letter drew attention to the fact that a copy of the report had been provided to the State government’s standing counsel, the Chief Secretary and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. It comes a day after Chief Minister K. Rosaiah stated on Sunday that the government had not received a copy of the CEC’s report.
The Committee had recommended to the Court that illegal mining be stopped in six mines in Obulapuram and H. Siddapuram villages of Anantapur district and observed that the “objectivity, fairness and impartiality which is expected from a State government is shockingly lacking here and does not inspire confidence”.
Having since received the report, the Chief Minister held a meeting with Minister for Mines B. Srinivasa Reddy, Forest Minister P. Ramachandra Reddy and Advocate General D.V. Sitarama Murthy and senior officials of the Law Department on Tuesday evening to discuss the future course of action.
Legal opinion
The Mines Minister later said the government would soon take a decision on the CEC’s report to stop mining activity in Anantapur district and collect penalty for the illegal mining done till date. The Advocate General had been asked to study the report of the three-member committee appointed by the State government before giving his legal opinion to the government.
