KTR demands cancellation of tenders in Suryapet mining blocks, seeks independent probe

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Monday alleged serious irregularities, procedural lapses and legal violations in the mining e-auction held in Suryapet district last year demanding cancellation of the tenders and an immediate independent inquiry.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the former Minister criticised the Mines and Geology department for conducting the e-auction in a manner that, he alleged, compromised transparency. Referring to a notification issued on August 30, 2024, he pointed out several deficiencies in the tender process.

“Nearly 1,100 acres of Reserved Forest (RF) land fall within the Pasupulabodu, Saidulnama and Sultanpur mining blocks. However, the tender documents allegedly failed to disclose mandatory technical details such as precise latitude and longitude coordinates, DGPS survey validation, forest compartment data, detailed survey maps and UTM geo-coordinates,” he claimed.

He added that comprehensive geological reports required under the Mineral Auction Rules, 2015, and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, were not provided, rendering the process legally questionable.

Expressing concern that authorities proceeded with the auction despite pending legal scrutiny and allegedly failed to comply with directions issued by the Telangana High Court, he questioned how preferred bidders were announced before environmental and statutory clearances were completed.

He also raised doubts over the selection of two companies that, he said, are facing cases related to illegal mining in reserved forest areas.

Alleging that the auction was conducted without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Forest department, he observed that such actions could harm the environment and erode public trust.