Hundreds of applicants seeking minor mineral leases across Andhra Pradesh are caught in prolonged delays as No Objection Certificate (NOC) files remain pending for months at tahsildar offices, bringing approvals almost to a halt and disrupting quarry operations linked to the construction sector. (Representational Image: DC)

 Kurnool: Hundreds of applicants seeking minor mineral leases across Andhra Pradesh are caught in prolonged delays as No Objection Certificate (NOC) files remain pending for months at tahsildar offices, bringing approvals almost to a halt and disrupting quarry operations linked to the construction sector.

Applications for quarrying materials such as gravel and other construction inputs are reportedly piling up in tahsildar offices across the State, with little movement despite repeated visits by applicants. “We have been running from pillar to post, but no one seems to take responsibility,” said one applicant, voicing frustration over the delay.

Under existing norms, applications must be examined and forwarded to the mining department within 25 days. However, in several districts, files have remained pending for more than three months. Usually, applicants approach the concerned mandal tahsildar to identify mineral-bearing areas. Once the NOC is issued, the proposal is sent to the mining department, which then forwards it for environmental clearance. Officials said the process is getting stuck at the very first stage.

Even as construction activity gathers pace across the State, the failure to issue timely NOCs has slowed progress in the sector and affected hundreds who depend on such permits for their livelihood.

Y. Nagaiah said delays were not occurring at the department level. “We process the files immediately once NOCs reach us. There is no pendency on our part,” he said.

In the past 10 months, around 1,727 applications were received, of which only 544 have been approved, leaving a large number still pending. Districts such as Eluru and Visakhapatnam were said to have particularly high pendency levels.

“It has been six months since I applied, but there is still no update. Every time I visit the office, they give a different excuse,” said V. Ramesh.

Though the process is meant to be completed within 25 days, many cases remain unresolved even after 180 days, indicating serious bottlenecks at the tahsildar level. Allegations have also surfaced that some officials are deliberately delaying files in anticipation of monetary gain.

Officials said the delays were also hitting government revenue. “Since mining activities are not taking off, the State is losing crores of rupees,” said an official from Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation.

With the implementation of the Minor Mineral Policy–2025, the number of applications has risen sharply, but approvals have failed to keep pace. “If the NOC issuance rate improves to at least 50 per cent, the State could generate an additional ₹100 crore in just three months. Another ₹100 crore could be realised over the next two years,” an official estimated.

A tahsildar from Kurnool revenue division attributed the delays to mounting workload pressure. “We have multiple responsibilities. Verification of NOCs requires field visits. We are working on clearing them soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, critics alleged that district administrations had failed to act decisively against erring officials, further compounding the crisis.

District        Applications      Requested     Issued Rejected     Pending    Pending Percentage

Eluru                 43                       35                     3   0                            32           91%

ASR                   46                      46                      4.  0                             42            91%

Visakha             26                     22                      4.   0                            18            82%

Tirupathi          162                    161                   33   5                            123          76%

Anakapalli        207                   207                    56   1                            150         72%

Ananthapur      38                     16                     5      0                             11           69%

Konaseema       3                       3                       1     0                                2              67%

East Godavari     55                     50                   17       0                           33                66%

NTR                      198                   198                   65    3                               130                  66%

Srikakulam          207                   207                   72     1                                134                   65%

Tags: