Hyderabad: Bowing to relentless pressure from the opposition, the Andhra Pradesh government Tuesday decided to order a CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities in iron ore mining in Anantapur district.

The Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Tuesday addressed a letter to the Union Home Ministry requesting for a inquiry into the matter.

The move came after serious allegations of irregularities, encroachment of forest and other private lands were levelled against the influential mine baron and Karnataka Tourism Minister Galli Janardhan Reddy, who has a major mining operation in Anantapur district.

Though the letter did not make any direct reference to Reddy or his Obulapuram Mining Company, it talked of "irregularities in mining in Anantapur". It is learnt that the CBI would be asked to probe the allegations levelled against Reddy's company.

Though the opposition parties have been alleging that Reddy's company was indulging in illegal mining of iron ore, and is causing losses of millions of rupees to the state, this is the first time that the state government has shown inclination to act on the issue.

Clean chit

Earlier the government headed by Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) had rejected the opposition's charges and given a clean chit to the Obulapuram company. Reddy and his family had a close friendship with YSR and his family.

The opposition parties have also alleged that the two families had interest in each other's businesses.

The issue recently hot up when the Anantapur district forest officer, Kallol Biswas, issued three showcause notices to OMC and asked it to suspend its mining operations.

After Reddy alleged that the officer had adopted a vindictive attitude towards his company, the state government constituted a three-member committee, which submitted its report to the government after visiting the area.

Meanwhile, the Telugu Desam party, which was in the forefront of highlighting the "mining scandal", has said that ordering CBI inquiry was not enough.