The sand policy in Telangana is considered the best in the country and is being followed by other states. Minister for Mines, Patnam Mahender Reddy, has asked officials to speed up the process of granting permissions for mines that were recently acquired through auctions. In a review meeting with Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari, the minister discussed the progress and achievements of the mining department since 2014.
Reddy inquired about the mineral blocks acquired through auction and the environmental clearances obtained for their operations. He instructed officials to expedite the necessary work. The mining department has made significant progress, surpassing the target of collecting Rs 2,267 crore for this year by collecting Rs 3,884 crore so far. Reddy praised the department’s achievements and urged the staff to continue working with dedication to meet future targets.
The minister also mentioned that proposals to fill 127 vacant posts in the department will be brought to the attention of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. Efforts will be made to strengthen the department and its resources by integrating technology. Reddy commended the TSMDC for winning several awards and highlighted that sand is being supplied through 101 reaches in the state. Additionally, 400 CCTV cameras are being installed to prevent illegal transportation of sand. Officials were directed to write to all collectors to expedite permits for mining sand in Patta lands and ensure there is no shortage of sand in all districts.
