Cancel leases of inoperative mines: K T Rama Rao

Minister K T Rama Rao on Thursday directed Mining Department officials to cancel mining leases where operations were not being carried out as per the lease agreements. 

The Minister, who held a review meeting, asked the officials to issue notices to mine owners within a week and cancel the lease agreements without succumbing to any political pressure.

“If the mine owners had begun operations as per the lease agreement, the government would have got revenue besides providing employment,” Rao said.He also wanted stern action against illegal mining and asked officials to focus on quality control. The Minister appreciated the department for ensuing transparency and earning a good name for the



government with the mining operations.

Rao urged the officials to adopt new technology by taking advice from the IT Department for geo-tagging of mines and real-time monitoring system. “If required, the inspecting officers will be given Tabs to forward the report from the site itself,” he said.

He also set a three-month deadline for the officials to geo-tag all mines and geo-fence mining boundaries in the State. The Minister also inaugurated the web portal of the Mining Department. Later, he said the portal will contain all the information pertaining to the Mining Department. Rao also suggested that payments to government be done through the newly launched portal.