Cong, TDP trade charges on mining controversy

Hyderabad, July 27 (UNI) Telugu Desam Party President N Chandrababu Naidu today alleged that illegal mining was on in the Obulapuram mining company, even as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy dismissed the charge as ''politically-motivated'' to ''discredit'' the Congress Government.

Addressing a press conference here, Dr Reddy said his government facilitated setting up an integrated steel plant in the private sector, in a smooth manner, in Backward Rayalaseema region to provide direct employment to 10,000 people and indirect employment to about one lakh people.

Releasing copies of various G.Os relating to the mining issue at a press conference, Mr Naidu claimed that the lessee had not complied with the conditions laid out in GO MS No:202, including obtaining forest clearance for carrying out mining in the forest land.

Mr Naidu said his party MLAs and MLCs tried to visit the mines to get reliable informaton on the charge that eight lakh tonnes of ''illegally'' mined iron were stored there but the TDP staged a ''drama'' in Obulapuram and attacked the police who observed maximum restraint.

The compact disc on the incident submitted to Speaker K R Suresh Reddy ''thoroughly exposed'' the TDP, Dr Reddy charged.

UNI