Date:29/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/29/stories/2008102953460400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Officials legalising pushing of boundary’

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa on Tuesday alleged that the Bellary district administration was trying to legalise the alleged illegal act of a Andhra Pradesh-based mining company which had pushed the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh inter-State boundary line deep into the areas of Karnataka in a bid to extend its area of mining operation to Karnataka.

Mr. Ugrappa, who was part of a committee of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee which undertook a visit to the inter-State boundary area to study the situation, alleged here on Tuesday that Obalapuram Mining Company had pushed the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh inter-State boundary line by about 400 metres into Karnataka. With this, Karnataka had lost nearly 28 acres of mineral rich forest area, including a hilly zone which had high quality iron ore.