Naidu threatens ''direct action'' against OMC
Hyderabad | Saturday, Nov 21 2009 IST
 

The opposition Telugu Desam Party(TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu today threatened that the Opposition would resort to ''direct action'' if the Andhra Pradesh Government did not immediately cancel the mining lease of Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) and confiscate iron ore mined there, in the wake of the findings of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). ''Chief Minister K Rosaiah should act immediately and fulfill his responsibilities. If he fails, we will intensify our stir along with other opposition parties till our demands are met,'' he told a press conference here. Stating that the previous Congress government, while promulgating the Government Orders 151 and 152, did not specify the condition of captive mining though it eliminated others on the ground, he wanted the Rosaiah government to ensure that the iron ore mined was used only for making steel.

It was improper on the part of Bellary mining tycoon and Karnataka Tourism Minister G Janardhan Reddy to claim that only the Supreme Court was the appropriate authority to decide the matter, Mr Naidu added. It may be noted that the CEC, appointed by the apex Court on environment and forest, in its preliminary report submitted to the apex court, has confirmed prima facie that there was illegal mining beyond the limits of leased lands, in violation of the Forest Conservation Act by Janardhana Reddy's companies. The CEC had been constituted only on the orders of the apex court and it was the right fora to decide the matter, Mr Naidu said. The TDP had already decided to undertake a campaign in New Delhi against the alleged illegal activities of the OMC by seeking support of all parties, including the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP.

Stating that ''the TDP along with like-minded parties will exert pressure on the Centre to take prompt action against OMC'', he wanted the Centre to announce a new mining policy with a view to promote ''value addition instead of exporting merely iron ore,'' taking a cue from China which was not using its indigenous iron and instead importing it to preserve it for future. So was the case with the USA, which was preserving crude oil, he pointed out.

-- (UNI) -- 21MS4.xml

 

Viewer's Comment Comments Not Available

More Stories

Reliance raises $1 billion through overseas bond issue 

Sensex closes 82 points lower as industrial output slows (Roundup) 

FIFA urges Uganda football federation to amend constitution 

Chinese held for poaching panda 17 years ago 

Rajasthan Tourism beckons 

Anbazhagan blames Pondy govt for rising rate 

Haryana issues advisory on consumption of Lauki juice 

Encephalitis not any issue in Poorvanchal during UP polls ! 

Printer Friendly Version