Hyderabad: The mining sector in Telangana is set to get a leg up. The TRS government has decided to zero in on the sector to boost Telangana’s finances. The government feels that the mining sector has been grossly neglected in Telangana all these years, though nine of the 10 districts have rich mineral resources.
The industries department is in the process of devising plans to give a fillip to the mining sector in nine districts in Telangana by encouraging firms to set up refineries and industries to mine manganese, iron and quartz.
Australia-based NNL Consolidate Ltd., an iron ore and pellet manufacturing firm, has proposed to set up its plants at Karimnagar and Siddipet, with an investment of nearly Rs 1,000 crore. The representative from NNL met Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao last week and submitted the proposals.
“The state is largely dependent on revenue from stamps and registrations, excise, commercial taxes and transport. Though the mining sector has huge potential in Telangana, it was neglected in the undivided state. We want to tap the mining sector to improve the finances of the state government, besides creating huge job opportunities for locals and youth in every district,” said T. Harish Rao, the minister for mining.
He said there are granite reserves in seven districts while quartz, which is widely used in electronic goods, is found in five districts. Besides, there are barytes, iron, manganese, laterite and dolomite reserves in some districts.
The government plans to invite noted national and international firms to set up mining industries in all the districts barring Hyderabad. The idea is to create employment opportunities for locals in mining and the industrial sector in a big way and check migration of people from districts to the city in search of a livelihood.
Mr Rao said the government will put a pre-condition that the industry has to be set up at the same place where mining is permitted.
