Anantapur, February 11: A team of the Central Investigation Bureau continued its inspection of the controversial Obulapurm mines in D Heerehal mandal today.
The team, which had earlier inspected the Antar Gangamma Company belonging to Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, inspected the mines belonging to Anantapuram Mining Company, Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) 1, 2, Bellary Iron Ore Company Limited and Mahabaleswarappa & Sons Company today.
Samples were taken from four places in Anantapur Mining Company mines, from three places each in Obulapuram Mining Company 1 and 2, and from two places in BIOCL mines.
According to sources, the CBI team came to know that that Gali Janardhan Reddy’s mining companies had secured permits even without adhering to norms. The Antar Gangamma company did not employ even a medium-grade miner for the high-grade iron ore as claimed by the company. Claiming deposits of 65.5-grade mineral in the mines, the Obulapuram Mining Company got permit for selling 27 lakh tonnes of the mineral. Claiming that there was high-grade iron ore in the 68.5 hectares leased to them , the Antar Gangamma Mines got permit for transporting the ore.
The CBI officials questioned mining department officials how they had issued permits for sale and transport of the ore which was not existent.
They also sought to know if mining of 27 lakh tonnes of ore was carried out and any evidence thereof.
The 15-member team which inspected the mines included CBI superintendent of police M Venkatesh, National Mineral Development Corporation senior geologist Mukherji, Indian Bureau of Mining officials Das, KR Rao, deputy director Ranga Rao, assistant Chalapathi and deputy forest officer Subba Reddy. The team might inspect the mines again or limit themselves to the verification of files and other records of the mining companies tomorrow.
–Agencies