Forest clearances of 6 mining firms suspended

New Delhi,Dec 1:The Ministry of Environment and Forests on Tuesday, suspended forest clearances of some firms for allegedly carrying out "illegal" mining in six mines in the State.The firms whose licenses have been suspended include the Obulapuram Mining Company owned by Karnataka minister G Janardhana Reddy.The action follows a Supreme Court-appointed committee’s suggestion that "illegal" mining was being carried out in these six mines in Anantapur district,bordering Karnataka.Following the suggestion, the MEF formally asked the state government to ban mining activities at these sites immediately.The Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court had earlier said that the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) was carrying out "illegal"mining of iron ore in the Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border.

"The state government has been asked to stop mining activities at these six mines immediately. It will also stop the transportation of materials excavated at these six sites," an official from the ministry said.The MEF has also asked the State government to conduct a survey in order to demarcate the mining boundaries. This survey should be handled by Survey of India, according to reports.The Central Empowered Committee had recommended to the Supreme Court that all mining activity in the region be suspended immediately till the boundaries of the mining leases are determined and fixed by an independent agency.A resident of Bellary had filed a writ petition against the OMC over the alleged violation of the Forest Conservation Act, prompting the Supreme Court to constitute the CED.The CEC, in its report,had contended that "the objectivity, fairness and impartiality which is expected from a state government is shockingly lacking here and does not inspire confidence.

The mining boundaries now determined by the state were totally inconsistent and different in terms of area of the mining lease, shape, length and bearings of the boundary line and location of the mining leases of OMC.Considering the shape of the mining leases, the CEC is of the view that without doubt there existed un-allotted forest area between three mining leases of OMC,Bellary Iron Ore Private Limited and Y M Sons and wherein illegal mining has taken place."