Tapal Ganesh seeks recovery of ₹884 crore from Obulapuram Mining Company for illegal ore extraction

Ballari-based miner and activist Tapal Ganesh has urged the State authorities to provoke restoration proceedings towards Obulapuram Mining Firm and its group entities for allegedly extracting 29 lakh tonnes of iron ore value ₹884 crore from Sandur cluster leases in Ballari district.

In a letter of August 18 addressed to the Chief Secretary, Mr. Ganesh has alleged that the mining firm, beneath the management of its director and former Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy, illegally mined and transported iron ore from Karnataka whereas misusing permits from its lease in Andhra Pradesh.

“It has been conclusively established by varied inquiries, experiences and judicial pronouncements that Obulapuram Mining Firm and its group entities have illegally mined and transported roughly 29 lakh tonnes of iron ore, valued at about ₹884 crore, from the Sandur cluster,” Mr. Ganesh wrote.

He cited a number of sources to again his declare, together with the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report of 2011 introduced earlier than the Supreme Court docket, the ultimate Lokayukta report on unlawful mining in Karnataka and the judgment of the CBI Court docket in Hyderabad delivered in Could 2025 which convicted OMC and its administrators of unlawful mining. The activist additionally pointed to FIRs filed by the Particular Investigation Crew (SIT) of the Lokayukta in 2015, naming Mr. Reddy as accused no 1 and official correspondence from forest officers documenting OMC’s operations within the Ballari Reserve Forest.

Talking to The Hindu on Thursday, Mr. Ganesh claimed that the proof is overwhelming and demanded that the federal government take rapid steps to recuperate ₹884 crore, the worth of illegally extracted iron ore, from the mining firm, MBT Hind Merchants and their associates.

“This isn’t nearly income loss. It’s about defending Karnataka’s pure sources, upholding the rule of regulation and restoring public belief that has been eroded by unlawful mining. The federal government should begin restoration course of which must be monitored on the highest stage as a result of its interstate implications, given the mining firm’s operations throughout Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka,” Mr. Ganesh mentioned and urged the State authorities to direct the departments of Mines and Geology, Forest, Income and Legislation to pursue coordinated authorized motion beneath the MMDR Act, the Karnataka Forest Act and different relevant legal guidelines.