Congress Rajya Sabha member Mr V Hanumantha Rao demanded that the iron ore mines leased to Obulapuram Mining Company transferred to Vizag Steel Plant as the latter is likely to face shortage of the ore very soon.

Mr Hanumantha Rao said that since a fraud of gigantic proportions committed by OMC was confirmed by the Central Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court, the state government should seize the entire ore stocked by the company immediately.

Demanding the immediate arrest of Mr Gali Janardhan Reddy the owner of the company, the MP also sought a probe as to why the request of Vizag Steel Plant for the ore was turned down by the mining department and suspected foul play in OMC getting preference over the public sector VSP.

Mr Rao charged that OMC has been earning INR 2 crore per day by exporting the ore mined illegally from Anantapur district. He said that for allowing this activity to go on unhindered for 2 years, all the officials responsible for aiding these irregularities should be brought to book.

(Sourced from Times of India)