Khammam, Oct.2 : Khammam District Collector T.S.Divakara warned that illegal mining activities will not be tolerated under any circumstances and promised strict action against violators in an official statement released on Friday. Following directions from the State Agriculture Minister regarding unauthorized mining operations in the Velugumatla area near Khammam, the Collector ordered joint inspections conducted by revenue and mining department officials.
During the inspections near Velugumatla Park, officials discovered that certain individuals were illegally extracting barytes mineral from private venture pattadar lands without valid permits. Preliminary inquiries revealed that offenders were digging small pits, breaking barytes boulders, and transporting the mineral via tractors to sell to nearby mineral dealers.
The mining officials, alongside the Khammam Urban Tehsildar, surveyed the affected sites and recorded measurements of the illegal excavations. Collector Divakara stated that the process to identify the pattadars and individuals involved in the unauthorized mining has been expedited. He warned that heavy penalties and notices will be issued to the violators, while licenses of mineral dealers purchasing illegally sourced minerals will be revoked alongside strict legal prosecution.
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