Jagan Govt Nods For Gali Janardhan Reddy’s Mining In AP

Controversial mining baron and former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy is leaving no stone unturned to begin the mining activities in Andhra Pradesh state. Gali Janardhan Reddy’s Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) has appealed to the Supreme Court to allow its mining operations in Andhra Pradesh mines.

For this, AP state has given its nod and approval to the OMC and conveyed its decision to the Supreme Court that it has no objection for OMC to do its mining activities in Andhra Pradesh mines.

Andhra Pradesh state said that the border issues with Karnataka state have been cleared and hence it said it has agreed for OMC to do the mining operation in Andhra mines.

However, the top court has decided to examine the OMC’s proposal to do mining activity in AP and attached its appeal to the existing case on the Obulapuram Mining Company that is pending with the Supreme Court.

Gali Janardhan Reddy’s OMC is facing several allegations for violating the rules and regulations. The CBI investigation on OMC is underway.

In 2009, AP government has ordered to stop the mining operations of OMC in the state. OMC had approached the AP High Court back then and got a judgement in its favour. However, then AP government had moved the Supreme Court and got a stay on High Court’s verdict.

While the cases against OMC are pending in the Supreme Court, YS Jagan-led AP government giving its nod for OMC’s mining activity in the state has come as a shocker.

Earlier, AP government had stopped the mining activities of OMC after it raised border dispute issue with neighbour Karnataka state. While AP and Centre now state that border issue with Karnataka is settled, Karnataka government is yet to sign the papers.

The map with the borders of Andhra and Karnataka have been prepared and Karnataka is yet to approve this. Even as this is pending, AP government going ahead and stating that it has objection over OMC’s mining activity within AP mines is raising concerns from opposition parties.