HYDERABAD | March 15, 2016: 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.

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.

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