Rajya Sabha member C M Ramesh, who deserted the Telugu Desam Party and defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party soon after the TDP’s humiliating defeat in the 2019 elections to the assembly as well as Lok Sabha from Andhra Pradesh, is learnt to have got the benefit for shifting his loyalties.
According to unconfirmed reports, Ritwik Projects Private Limited, promoted by Ramesh, has bagged the fresh lease for iron ore mining at Obulapuram at D Hirehal mandal of Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
There are in all, 11 mines spread in the reserved forests of Obulapuram in D. Hirehal mandal close to Bellary in Karnataka. These Obulapuram mines are understood to have rich iron ore deposits.
Majority of the mines were under the control over Obulapuram Mining Company promoted by former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, who grew to super riches through these mines, before the Central Bureau of Investigation busted the multi-thousand crore OMC scam in 2011.
Recently, the governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh initiated steps to identify the borders of the mining areas in the reserve forest areas to prevent encroachments after a two-year long survey.
There were allegations that the mining barons, particularly Janardhan Reddy, destroyed survey stones and borders of the forest department during illicit mining.
It is not immediately known which part of these mines had been given on lease to Ritwik Projects and to what extent. But if the reports are true, it will be a gold mine for the BJP MP.
Ritwik Projects, which has been into various activities including mining, power sector, Railways, highways, irrigation and building construction, presently has been undertaking iron ore mining at Kalta iron ore, the company’s website said.