AP's revenue from mines goes up at Rs 4,756 crore in 2022-23

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government’s revenue from mining has gone up to Rs 4,756 crore in 2022-23 against the Rs 1,950 crore in 2018-19.

State mineral development corporation vice chairman and MD, Venkata Reddy, said here on Friday that major changes were effected in the mining activity by chief minister Jagan Reddy. This resulted in an increase in the revenue to the state exchequer from the mines.

He said 13 district vigilance squads were set up to curb illegal mining activity. A toll free number, 180059944599, was also set up to check illegal mining and transport of minerals. As a result, the number of filed cases rose to 643 during the 2019 - 2022 period against the 424 cases in the 2014-19 term of the TD government.

The MD said during the 2014-19 period, then minister Ayyannapatrudu through his benamis resorted to large-scale illegal mining. Quarries were encroached upon minerals mined beyond permitted quantity. There was illegal transport of laterite then.

He said the penalties imposed under the present government’s term were Rs 1,57,62,500 on P Demudu, Rs 11,06,80,624 on S Bhavani and Rs 8,49,32,995 on K Lovaraju.

He said nearly 1,200 areas spread over about 6,000 hectares, are having deposits of minor minerals that are to be e-auctioned. The entire exercise would be done in a transparent manner.

The MD listed out details on inspections district-wise and the penalty imposed for violation of norms. A fine of Rs 40 crore was imposed on the errant in Srikakulam district after inspection of six granite quarries and 23 polishing units. A fine of Rs 100 crore was imposed on entities in Visakhapatnam district; a fine of Rs 100 crore in Krishna district and Rs 2,000 crore in Prakasam district after inspection of 155 granite quarries.

A fine of Rs 30 crore was imposed in Guntur district; and Rs 100 crore fine in Nellore district apart from a fine of Rs 315 crore imposed after inspection of 96 other quarries.