Mining activist Tapal Ganesh has called for a reconsideration of the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border demarcation, citing discrepancies in the 2022 Survey of India map and urging reliance on the original 1896 forest records.

  • Demand to replace the 2022 SoI strip map with the original 1896 notified forest map.
  • Reference to a 2011 Supreme Court affidavit filed by the Karnataka State.
  • Call for a multi-departmental committee (Revenue, Forest, Mines) to verify ground reality.
  • Urgent demand for ₹884 crore recovery from Obulapuram Mining Company.

Kalaburagi/Ballari: A significant legal and territorial challenge has emerged regarding the inter-state boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Ballari-based mining activist Tapal Ganesh has formally urged the State government to withdraw its acceptance of the 2022 Survey of India (SoI) strip map used for demarcating the boundary in the Ballari Reserved Forest.

In a detailed representation submitted to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Ganesh argued that the current strip map, dated May 4, 2022, is fundamentally flawed because it lacks essential village boundaries and contour records. He contended that the original 1896 notified forest map remains the only reliable document, as it contains specific village boundary markers necessary for accurate demarcation.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that boundary disputes of this nature can lead to decades of litigation and administrative chaos. By relying on a map that lacks granular village-level data, the state risks conceding territory or resources that are legally protected under older, more detailed historical records.

The reliance on modern strip maps over historical notified maps often creates a vacuum of local geographical context, leading to interstate friction.

A critical component of this demand is the legal precedent set in 2011. Ganesh pointed to an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court by the then Karnataka Chief Secretary, S.V. Ranganath, in a case involving Samaj Parivartana Samudaya. In that affidavit, the State had explicitly committed to finalizing the boundary based on the 1896 map. The activist is now calling on the current administration to uphold its legal commitment.

Furthermore, the representation touches upon a massive financial scandal. Ganesh has demanded the recovery of approximately ₹884 crore, representing losses to the State Exchequer due to illegal mining activities by the Obulapuram Mining Company. He cited the May 2025 judgment from the CBI court in Hyderabad and recent reports from the Ballari Chief Conservator of Forests as evidence of this pending recovery.

To resolve this, Ganesh has proposed the formation of a high-level committee comprising officials from the Revenue, Forest, and Mines and Geology departments, along with the Survey of India, to conduct a ground-level verification against historical records before presenting findings to the Supreme Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the 2022 SoI strip map being contested?
It is being contested because it lacks the village boundary markers and contour records present in the original 1896 forest map.

2. What is the connection to the Obulapuram Mining Company?
The activist is seeking the recovery of ₹884 crore lost to the state due to illegal mining by this company, as identified in recent court judgments.

Did You Know?: Boundary disputes in India often hinge on 'notified maps' which carry higher legal weight than administrative drawings.