Hyderabad, January 09: Welcoming the recommendation of the Supreme Court’s Empowered Committee for cancellation the Obulapuram mining lease given to Karnataka BJP minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao today urged chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to order a comprehensive inquiry into illegal mining at Obulapuram that had been taking place for several years and to bring in a legislation to check such illegal mining in the state.
Suspecting the role of the late YSR’s son and former Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy’s role in Obulapuram mining, he told reporters at his residence here today that he would meet the chief minister with a request to order a detailed inquiry in order to punish those responsible for the issue of mining licences in 2004.
“Both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments have the responsibility to implement the recommendations made by the empowered committee. Besides, steps should be taken to prevent mining at Bayyaram in Khammam district to protect the forest and environment there. In reality, the persons involved in illegal mining have earned lakhs of crores of rupees and grown to a stage of dominating the political scene. Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa was in tears when Gali brothers created political instability with their money power. There is a need to check illegal mining to finish the mining mafia.’’
The MP said Jagan must have had a role in Obulapuram mining as can be understood from the statement made by Gali Janardhan Reddy that the Congress government was resorting to acts of vengeance and conspiracy against him and Jagan. Till date all had felt that Jagan had had a role only in respect of Bharati cement and Brahmani steel companies. The state Government should take the issue seriously and act immediately to implement the empowered committee’s recommendations, Rao said.
–Agencies