It is not far from belief that any party that comes to power tends to engage in misdeeds and drown in corruption to amass wealth. Even the YCP leaders did this during their tenure.
However, the current Alliance government's hunger for power and wealth seems to be much greater. This is likely because, unlike the YCP, which had only one head, the Alliance comprises three parties, with the TDP holding the major share of power.
As per sources, the current government's leaders have been displaying an insatiable appetite for seizing resources, much like the previous YCP regime.
They are continuing illegal practices, particularly in the mining sector, leading to massive losses to the exchequer, sources say.
Key misdeeds as shared by a source:
Illegal Mining Exploitation: Mining in districts such as Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, and the Godavari districts has become a lucrative business for MLAs. These leaders, along with officials, use their power to generate massive profits through illegal methods.
Tax Evasion: Mining and transport taxes like GST and royalties are regularly evaded. Lorries transporting granite stones pay little to no tax. The government's revenue loss from this is estimated at around ₹720 crores annually, with zero-billed transportation being a common occurrence.
Fake Billing in Quarries: In quarry-rich areas like Chimakurti and Ballikurava, vast amounts of stone are extracted without proper documentation. For every 10 meters of stone mined, only 5 meters are officially billed. This results in the illegal transportation of stone without taxes, costing the government ₹60-80 crore per year.
Collusion Across Parties: Leaders from various political parties—TDP, BJP, and YCP—are all involved in the mining business. Regardless of which party is in power, they continue their operations without facing consequences, showing that the corruption cuts across political lines.
Worker Exploitation and Safety Violations: Quarry workers frequently suffer injuries and even fatalities during blasting and stone quarrying. Despite labor law requirements for compensation, officials and companies bribe their way out of legal accountability.
Bribery of Officials: Local commercial tax, mining, and police officers routinely receive bribes to overlook these illegal practices, further entrenching the corruption and aiding the mining traders.
This corruption and illicit activity result in massive revenue losses for the government and have a deep impact on public trust and worker safety.
