The Telangana Mining Department has readied three limestone blocks in Suryapet to offer them for auction.

KT Rama Rao, State Minister for Industries, IT, Mines and Geology, said, “The State government has managed to get three limestone blocks ready for auction in a record three months time. This is a not an easy task given the challenges in the mining sector. These blocks have been identified in the Suryapet district of the State after a detailed exploration process.”

Limestone is a major ingredient for cement manufacturing plants and for building materials.

“This would not have been possible without the the Union Mines Ministry’s support. We look forward to the support from the Centre to facilitate the process,” he said while speaking on the potential of the mining sector in boosting Telangana, which is rich in mineral resources such as iron ore, coal, limestone, granite and other major and minor minerals.

Growth engine

The State is home for huge coal reserves in the southern part of the country and this is being efficiently utilised by Singareni Collieries Company Limited.

“We recognise mineral wealth as a national resource and have identified mining sector as a growth engine. With the series of initiatives, the State has been ranked No.1 in the ease of doing business. The focus on the mining sector has yielded good results and we expect to close this financial year with revenues of ₹3,500 crore, up from ₹3,170 crore last fiscal,” he said.. The State has received ₹1,328 crore from the District Mining Foundation pool for taking up welfare measures in the areas where mining has been initiated.

Integrated steel plant

The Minister said that the State has been relentlessly pursuing the proposed Integrated Steel Plant at Khammam which was promised under the AP Reorganisation Act during the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

“Over the past three-and-a-half years, we have been in touch with the Steel Ministry and NMDC and efforts are on to see that the project becomes a reality. While it is a fact that the steel sector has been passing through tough times, the plant would augur well for the State’s economy as also in providing jobs, when the sector looks up,” he said.

“We are also considering some out-of-the-box solutions, including setting up of a railway line from the NMDC Bailadila mines to Khammam, so that it will become cost-effective. Towards this, we are engaged with NMDC and have enlisted the services of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited to explore a rail link for evacuation of ore for the proposed plant,” he added.

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