GURAZALA (GUNTUR DT) | Apr 14, 2015: Protesting the ongoing ‘rampant’ illegal mining of lime stone allegedly being undertaken by the groups led by Telugu Desam Gurazala MLA Yerapathaneni Srinivasa Rao, YSR Congress leaders staged a sit-in programme at the RDO office here on Monday.

The protest was followed by a visit to two mining sites at Koonati village in Piduguralla mandal and Nadikudi village in Dachepalli mandal, which ended on a tense note after the YSRC MLAs were stopped by the police. Party official spokesperson Ambati Rambabu, district unit president Marri Rajasekhar, party secretary Lella Appireddy expressed their solidarity with the local leaders.

Leading the protest, former MLA and general secretary Janga Krishna Murthy accused Mr. Srinivasa Rao of looting the public wealth in the lime stone rich Palnadu region, accusing the government agencies of negligence and criminal conspiracy.

The two mining leases granted to the ACC Cements have expired long back and since then, locals have been mining in small quantities. But, following the change of government, the Gurazala MLA forcibly began mining activities, he said. Every day, locals said that they see hundreds of tractors were being engaged in the mining, in blatant violation of the rules.

“Lakhs of tonnes of lime stone has been illegally quarried till now, resulting in loss of crores to the government. The TDP leaders have been exploiting poor labourers and minting money. The lime stone is directly being sold to pulverising mills in and around Piduguralla,” said Mr. Krishna Murthy.

A recent fact-finding visit to the villages was foiled by the police, on the pretext of law and order problem.

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