Andhra’ minister Reddy defies state, SC over illegal mining

Andhra Pradesh tourism minister and mining baron G Janardhan Reddy on Wednesday defied both the Supreme Court and his own government, saying Obulapuram Mining Co owned by him has received no show cause notice from the Andhra Pradesh government or anybody else asking it to halt its operations.

Earlier, the state government said it had banned mining operations at six iron ore mines, including those owned by Reddy, in three villages in Anantapur district pending ''appropriate orders'' from the Supreme Court on a report of its Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on environment.

While saying that he did not want to comment on a case that is before the Supreme Court, Reddy wondered about the basis on which the CEC had prepared its report. No CEC member had visited the OMC's area of operations, he said.

"I think the AP government must have given the notice to media,'' he added sarcastically. ''I have not received any communication from the government to stop the mining activities of OMC."

The CEC report that has indicted OMC and other companies over illegal mining was submitted on 19 November, a day after the Andhra Pradesh government sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the issue under political pressure.

Reddy told reporters in Hyderabad that there has been no hitch in regular ore extraction activity by OMC. ''There is no question of stopping the activities,'' he said, adding that the company is prepared for a legal battle.