High Court sends notice to state

By Shariff Ameeruddin Ishaqui
Hyderabad, May 23: The AP High Court temporarily suspended notices issued by the director of mines and geology to cancel mining lease granted to various companies to carry out mining of silica sand in Nellore district.
Mr V. Rajagopal Reddy, Kumarswamy Silica Mines, Balaji Mines and Minerals, Gayathri Minerals, Bhagya Lakshmi Minerals and Mr T. Gopal Reddy filed separate petitions challenging the show-cause notice issued by the mines department for termination of their lease.
The petitioners told the court that the director, mines and geology, granted lease to their companies to carry out mining operations to extract silica sand nearly 200 hectares in the district for a period of 20 years.
The lands were in Chillakur and Guduru mandals of the district. The petitioners alleged that the notice was issued with an intention to acquire land for the proposed SEZ at Krishnapatnam.
They said their companies have entered into an agreement to several companies including Railways and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to supply the sand.
The court admitted the writ petitions and issued notices to the state besides mines and geology department.