Revenue Spiked After Gagging Sand Mafia: KTR

Telangana Mining Minister K T Rama Rao today informed the Legislative Council that the State government got three-fold revenue by slapping penalties on illegal sand mining and taking stringent measures against the officials for irregularities and involvement with the Sand Mafia.

During the Question Hour in the Council on Wednesday, Rao said that a new mining policy would be unveiled soon. The new policy was in its lap of formulation and would soon be passed before the Cabinet for approval, he said.

The mining wing had received Rs. 11.8 crores through penalties, the Minister claimed. And as many as 1,500 cases had been filed after seizing 61,000 cubic-meters of illegally mined sand.

The TRS scion also said that CCTV cameras had been set up at sand reaches and GPS had been introduced in the month of January to check illegal quarrying. He also said that severe action was taken against officials who were involved in such activities.

KTR said two dry ports for sand mines would set up - one each in the East and West side of Hyderabad - and works would begin in 2018. The dry ports need Rs. 3,600 crores and the Centre would probably give finances and technical support.

Tenders were already in place to set up these ports at Bhongir, Chityala, Krishnapatnam, Jadcherla, Zaheerabad and Miryalaguda, and the State government would take a final call on finding suitable locations for better and safer connectivity, the Minister said.