HYDERABAD | Dec 31, 2015: The state government is all set to sanction mining leases in January as it is determined to increase its revenue in the next financial year. The new leases will be sanctioned only after the state mining policy is released which is likely after Sankranti.

This is the first time that the Telangana government is coming out with a policy on mining. “There was no mining policy at all in the combined Andhra Pradesh. The TS is coming out with a policy on allocating mining leases in a transparent manner,” official sources told Express.

In the past one year the state government had not given any mining lease permission, the sources pointed out. However, the target of income from royalty on minerals was fixed at ` 3,500 crore in the 2015-16 Budget.

With sanction of no new mining leases, the mining department has netted a revenue of only ` 1,700 crore so far in the current fiscal. “We could not reach the projected revenue target,” admitted sources in the department.

After considering all these factors, the state government is all set to announce the new mining policy to grant mining leases. This would also help the new industrial policy of the state government.

Industries based on minerals will also be considered for mining leases. “We are studying the policies of Karnataka and other states in this regard and the policy will be finalised soon,” the sources added.

The first mining policy of the state would also take into account the shifting of 31 minerals from major category to minor category by the Centre for granting leases. “The director-general of mining could sanction lease for the mining of minor minerals but the leases for major minerals have to be issued by the state government. The mining policy will also frame specific rules on jurisdictions,” the source said.

The state has deposits of barytes, white clay, felspar, fireclay dolomite, laterite, limestone, mica, quartz and some other minerals.

(Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/)