Will survey of TNR mines solve border dispute?

BELLARY: Even as the Lokayukta report on illegal mining is eagerly awaited, another major aspect connected to illegal mining - the finalisation of inter-state mining border - is also nearing.The composite team set up by the Supreme Court will take up survey of TNR Mines from Monday. With this a solution is expected to the main dispute on inter-state mining boundary with Andhra Pradesh.When the dispute between Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC) and TNR Mines regarding encroachment of mining leases at Tumati and Vithalpur areas in Sandur taluk reached the High Court, the court had ordered survey by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and Survey of India (SOI). The forest officials who failed in conducting survey also faced wrath of the High Court.Tapal Narayan Reddy, mine owner at Tumti, had filed a case against the OMC for encroaching upon his mining area. The same dispute led TNR Mines to file a complaint against OMC promoters in 2006 for destroying mining lease borders and threatening their staff. Later, a Sandur court issued nonbailable warrants against Minister G Janardhan Reddy for nine times, but, he failed to honour the court summons.Recently the HC took the government to task in this regard and suspended three police officers for dereliction of their duties. The fact finding committee, led by then opposition leader in Legislative Council Ugrappa, also visited the border area in 2008.Senior forest official UV Singh, who had stated that the OMC had encroached upon TNR Mines in border area, is now with the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) which is taking up the survey work.The survey and demarcation process of 99 mining leases has started on the direction of Supreme Court and those of 35 leases have been covered. Now, with the survey of TNR Mines from Monday, it is hoped that the years-old mining border dispute between the two states would come to an end.