Hyderabad | Nov 22, 2016 : In a review meeting on mining and industries, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced an important decision to ban transfer of mining contracts (lease).

To curb illegal activities, transfer is allowed only for captive mining. In case of lease allocated for captive use, transfer of lease will be allowed if the processing/manufacturing unit is acquired by another company.

To give a boost to Ceramic and Glass industry, the Chief Minister has accorded permission to set up Ceramic processing cluster at Chittoor and Krishna districts and Glass mineral processing cluster at Orvakal Industrial Hub, Kurnool district.

Reacting to the representations on Granite mining Seigniorage and DMF royalty, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to study Seigniorage fees and royalty levied in the neighboring states.

In the mining affected area within 5 Km radius from the periphery of mines and affected area between 5 - 20 Km radius, the Chief Minister directed to develop the area by utilising DMF funds. On construction of buildings exceeding 5,000 sft a fee of Rs. 3 per sft will be levied.

For violation of contract agreement and non establishment of Cement plant, Lime stone block lease contracts in Kurnool and Guntur districts have been cancelled, informed mining officials to the Chief Minister.

After obtaining necessary permissions from the central government bidding notification will be issued. Four new Lime stone blocks have been identified in Guntur district and efforts are on to identify iron ore mine in Pachipenta, Vijayanagaram district. Lead, Zinc, and Copper minerals are identified in Cuddapah and Guntur districts, informed the officials.

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