During Vaikapa’s five-year rule, in sand and mining, Rs. 19,137 crore looted by Chief Minister Chandrababu.
they did not even let me go to inspect the quarry in a pile of
keys , no matter how big the looters are,
we will give them back to those who lost their leases due to anarchy,
CM Chandrababu revealed.
Galla S Kiran Kumar, Bureau Chief
Today – Amaravati: During Vaikapa’s five-year rule, sand and mining Rs. 19,137 crore looted by Chief Minister Chandrababu. In the previous government, Vaikapa leaders have promised to return the leases and quarries that the victims of the quarries came forward. “Threatened, imposed heavy fines, brutalized. Many took away leases, quarries and crushers. They changed their names under pressure. This is what has happened in the last five years. During the release of a white paper in the secretariat on ‘exploitation of natural resources under Vaikapa regime’, Chandrababu explained how Vaikapa leaders have corrupted and looted the mining sector in the state. He warned that no matter how big the perpetrators of illegal activities in the mines are, they will not be spared.
In the evening, let the money reach home..
“In 2016, the TDP government implemented the free sand policy, but the previous government canceled it. As a result, there was a shortage of sand and the construction industry collapsed. 20 lakh laborers lost their jobs. 130 laborers committed suicide. Later, in favor of the Vaikapa elders, Jaiprakash’s company was brought in as a sand monopolist. A subcontractor was appointed for it. The leaders of that party dug in the middle. Later, Pratima and GCKC companies were brought into the field as sand collectors. These have saved Rs.100 crores of GST. Dues of Rs.1,067 crore have not been paid. Many violations were committed in sand mining and sales. Manual permits are given. Cash was taken. Excavated by machines. Roads were built in the rivers to move the sand. Environmental norms are not followed. NGT told to stop but ignored. Many people like Premraj from West Godavari district, who traded sand on behalf of Vaikapa leaders, had to commit suicide because they could not protect the party leaders. They made sure that the money reached the house in the evening. If a person named Danda Nagendra goes to the Supreme Court and fights against the sand irregularities, a SC and ST atrocity case will be filed against him,’ said Chandrababu.
One Minister for Forests and Mines
‘Forestry and mining departments do not have a single minister anywhere. For the first time in history, in the previous government, both were tied to one person and the thief was robbed. Pressure was put on the silica sand lessees in Nellore district and they bought it at the quoted price. They monopolized to give all the quartz to them. Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy fought to prevent this. Ramakrishna Reddy, who was in TEDPA at that time, agitated against illegal gravel mining in Anaparthi of East Godavari district. A fine of Rs.215 crore was imposed on MSP Granite in Srikakulam and finally it was acquired in the name of Vamsadhara Granites belonging to the former MLA of Railway Kodur. Leases of laterite in East Godavari were grabbed by force. Vigilance inspections were carried out on 155 granite quarries in Prakasam district, out of which only 23 people were fined Rs 614 crore. They brought the situation to close. The same was done in black granite in Chittoor district. A fine of Rs 248 crore was imposed on the lessee named Venkatasai. In the previous government, I was not allowed to go to the quarry where illegal mining was going on in Kuppam constituency. However, I suddenly went and did a dharna. Excavated at will in forest areas. Illegal excavations were also carried out within the Dravida University. Soil worth Rs.800 crores has been moved in Polavaram’s right canal embankment. If we do this, how can we protect the canal during floods and rains? If the limestone lease of Jagan’s Saraswati Power expired, it was renewed when their government came. Mines, Thitide, Beverages Corporation, Fibernet.. All the money-giving organizations were brought in officials from outside.. and looted. Chandrababu fumed that some officers played the role of spectators.
The real robbery is many times..
- The revenue of the mining department increased from Rs.966 crore in 2014-15 to Rs.2,643 crore in 2018-19. The growth rate is 150 percent. It fell to Rs.2,072 crore in 2019-20 and reached only Rs.3,425 crore in 2023-24. That means the growth rate is only 40 percent.
- Rs.9,750 crores due to non-compliance of proper mining methods, Rs.6,940 crores due to illegal mining by introducing new sand policy, Rs.1,167 crores due to unpaid bills by sand miners, Rs.1,000 crores due to issuance of permits to neighboring services, Rs.280 crores dues to be paid by scenery miners to the government. The total loss to the government is Rs.19,137 crores. Actually it can be many times more. The damage caused to the environment is incalculable,” said the CM.
