Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered an inquiry by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department into irregularities committed by a private company in mining of beach sand minerals in Srikakulam district.
This was stated in the Assembly by Minister for Mines Peethala Sujatha during question hour on Monday.
Replying to a question by P. Vishnu Kumar Raju (BJP), she said that two mining leases for beach sand minerals are being held by M/s Transworld Garnet India Pvt. Ltd and M/s East West Mineral Sands Pvt. Ltd over an extent of 94.085 hectares and 720 hectares respectively in the district.
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She said that certain irregularities have been brought to the notice of the government and a report has been received on the irregularities committed by M/s East West Mineral Sands Pvt Ltd. She said that action was being taken. She said that the company did not have No Objection Certificate (NOC) for 158 hectares of the 720 hectares and instructions would be given to stop mining wherever it was being done without permission.
Earlier, Mr. Raju described it as a big scam and exports to the tune of Rs.1300 crore had been made. TDP member S.S. Shivaji said mining was being done without permission and urged the government to order an inquiry.
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Replying to another question, Agriculture Minister P. Pulla Rao informed Audimulapu Suresh and others said that five lakh tenant farmers were given Loan Eligibility Cards. He said that although there were 16.5 lakh tenant farmers, there was no evidence over their tenancy. He said during 2015-16, an amount Rs.281.81 crore was disbursed to LEC holders and an amount of Rs.148.66 crore has been disbursed to 70,013 LEC holders in Kharif 2015.
Answering another question on lack of proper sanitation in RTC bus stands, Transport Minister Siddha Raghava Rao said that many measures were being taken to improve sanitation and passenger amenities in bus stations. He said there were 423 bus stations and renovation work was being taken up in phases. It is likely to be completed in 88 bus stations by this month-end.