New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday extended its interim order banning mining and transportation of iron ore by Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) Pvt Ltd, owned by the Reddy brothers, in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

The bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and justice B.S. Chauhan decided to continue with its 17 December 2009 order after both the Andhra Pradesh government and OMC preferred that the matter be heard by the Supreme Court instead of the Andhra Pradesh high court.

The Supreme Court had stayed the high court order allowing the mining and transportation of iron ore by OMC Pvt Ltd.

Attorney general G.E. Vahanvati appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government assailed the high court order which allowed the mining activities despite the apex court appointed CEC and government appointed three-member committee pointing out irregularities in the mining operation which was carried out by encroaching the forest area.

He said the committee criticised Karnataka minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his brother for the illegal mining done by them in the Bellary reserve forest.

The attorney general said the CEC report alleged the OMC has extended the area of mining operations by removing the pillars which formed the boundary of the area for which the lease was granted.

Further, he submitted that the company had not allowed the carrying out of the survey in the area.