Media reports indicate that the Andhra Pradesh High Court issued notices to the concerned authorities in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the granting of the Bayyaram mining lease to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (Visakhapatnam Steel Plant).

JayaPrakasha Rao, retired associate professor of Osmania University, and two others of Khammam district filed a PIL with the court challenging the state government's decision to grant iron ore mining lease to the state-run firm.

The petitioners allege that the government granted mining lease for about 5,342 hectare land in favour of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant without obtaining the statutory clearances or approvals and following proper procedure.

The land includes reserve forest area located in Warangal and Khammam districts and all the villages concerned fall within the scheduled area, the petitioners said.