ANANATAPUR: The three-member forest department committee, which was deputed by the State Government to survey the Obulapuram mines following allegations that the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) had violated norms and was doing illegal mining on a largescale, took their job lightly and did a namesake survey.
The committee headed by Chief Conservator of Forests (Vigilance) Sammireddy conducted the survey reportedly in consultation with OMC Managing Director Srinivasa Reddy.
The committee, which came on a three-day visit, spent the first day in Ananatapur under the pretext of examining the records. They went to Obulapuram on the second day, where they were given a royal reception by the OMC MD. Accompanied by Srinivas Reddy, they visited OMC’s Antaraganga mines and surveyed the area.
Before leaving for Antaraganga, the officials spent half a day at Rayadurgam.
While OMC MD and other employees accompanied the team, representatives of the OMC rival company, Bellary Mining Company (BMC) were forced to stay in Anantapur as they received threatening calls from the OMC.
The official committee did not bother to invite or contact the BMC representatives.
Interestingly, the committee had inspected the mines belonging to Ananatapur Mining Company, also owned by Gali Janardhana Reddy, in the evening at around 6.30 p.m. Moreover, the committee set a record of sorts by completing the survey of mines in Obulapuram area in a single day.