TDP wants global tenders for Obulapuram mines

Hyderabad, Aug 14 (UNI)Alleging that mining of valuable iron was being undertaken by people close to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ''illegally'', the TDP supremo and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded that global tenders be called for exploitation of the ore at Obulapuram village in the Anantapur district.

Talking to newspersons here with Dr Nagam Janardhana Reddy, who led his party in an all-party delegation visiting the mines, Mr Naidu alleged that several hundred crore worth ore was now being dug illegally by a company owned by a friend of the Chief Minister.

He wanted the company to stop mining illegaly and called for global tenders.

Mining exploitation rights were now accorded to the Obulapuram Mining Company.

Alleging that the company while exploiting on the 'Iron Ore' had presented a bullet-proof Volvo bus worth Rs 8 to Rs 8.5 lakh to Mr Reddy, the TDP chief said that his party would not stand as a silent witness to ''looting'' and threatened to seek political and legal recourse.

Mr Naidu said forest clearances for the mines were hastily done with the influence of the Chief Minister with restrospctive effect and alleged that the company had exploited the ore for two years, without permission.

Giving his nod to the massive Brahmini Steels project being constructed in the neighbouring Kadapa district by the same company, Mr Naidu demanded that the mining exploitation rights must be given only on the basis of global tenders.

When asked why his party was alone objecting to the mining project, while the other parties - BJP, CPI, CPI(M), among others had also visited the site had said there were no irregularities, Mr Naidu said if any party joined hands with TDP's fight against the exploitation, he would welcome it and asserted that even if his party was required to fight the issue alone, it would do so.

Janardhana Reddy (TDP) had alleged that despite the party asking for 24 documents, officials had not provided them so far.

UNI