The Department of Mines and Geology recommends that the Ballari mining representation be referred to the Justice Dhulia Committee

Mining operations are going on in the Devagiri Hills, near Sandur, Ballari District. | Photo credit: File photo

Fresh official correspondence from two Karnataka government departments has again drawn attention to the statement regarding the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) lease and the categorization of certain mining leases along the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border.

In a letter dated July 17, 2026, the Director of Mines and Geology informed the state government that the affidavit submitted by Ballari-based petitioners Tapal Ekambaram and Tapal Ganesh, sent by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, should be placed before the Justice Dhulia Committee set up by the Supreme Court to examine issues related to the inter-state forest dispute.

The ministry said it was not the competent authority to decide the issues raised on behalf and recommended that the matter be referred to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the Justice Dhulia Committee for an appropriate decision.

Among other things, the representation is seeking re-categorization of Mining Lease (ML) No. 2527, vacating the alleged overlapping of 68.5 hectares of OMC’s lease in Karnataka, restoration of village boundaries and legal action against OMC in light of the CBI court judgment delivered earlier this year.

An earlier report submitted by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Ballari Circle, to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Conservation of Forests) on July 14 also examined the complaints of two petitioners regarding alleged irregularities in CEC Report No. 27 of 2025 and recovery of ₹884 crore for illegal mining of iron or varnish from the OMC group and its group. cluster rentals in karnataka.

Referring to the CBI court judgment dated 6 May 2025, the report said that the trial court had found that although permits were obtained to mine iron ore from leases in Andhra Pradesh, scientific analysis showed that commercial grade ore was not available there in the required quantity and that the mining was taking place in neighboring Karnataka leases. The judgment, as quoted in the report, said illegal mining worth ₹884.13 crore was identified during the investigation.

The Director of Mines and Geology’s statement assumes significance in view of the Supreme Court’s order dated February 24, 2026, directing the Sudhanshu Dhulia Committee on the Judiciary to inquire into issues related to alleged encroachment of reserved forest lands, overlapping of mining lease boundaries, extent of illegal mining and estimated loss to the exchequer. With the matter tentatively listed in the Supreme Court on 13 August 2026, the ministry’s recommendation that the submissions of the petitioners be referred to the Justice Dhulia Committee and the CEC could allow the relevant authorities to submit objections to the bodies charged with examining the issues.

Published – 19 Jul 2026 0:18 IST