A media report on Wednesday created ripples in Andhra Pradesh’s political circles, alleging that the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government, under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, had granted a lease for barytes mining in Vemula Mandal, Pulivendula constituency, Kadapa district, to a close relative of YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at a throwaway price.
By the evening, the state government made a U-turn and issued oral instructions to the mining department authorities to stall the execution of the lease order. Apparently, Naidu took the media report seriously and sought an explanation from the concerned authorities.
State Mining Minister Kollu Ravindra later issued a statement, assuring a deeper investigation into the matter and promising disciplinary action against those responsible.
On January 15, 2025, Director of the Mines Department Praveen Kumar issued a lease order for valuable white barytes mines in Vemula Mandal, Pulivendula constituency, under his discretionary powers, in favor of Y.S. Venkata Reddy from Pulivendula, who is Jagan’s cousin.
The department allotted a lease for barite (barytes) deposits worth over ₹100 crore, covering 9.55 hectares, for a period of 20 years.
According to the media report, a key TDP leader from the YSR district played a crucial role in expediting the process.
The approval for minor minerals such as road metal, granite, and barytes does not fall under the minister’s jurisdiction. Consequently, the lease was granted to Venkat Reddy without the minister’s knowledge.
“The approval of quarry leases falls under the exclusive discretionary powers of the Director of Mines and Geology. However, this particular order was issued in violation of the deadline set by the Mines Department on May 24, 2024. The former Director of Mines, Venkat Reddy, granted these approvals after the deadline, violating departmental regulations,” said Kollu Ravindra.
Preliminary investigations revealed that a senior official, closely associated with former minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, played a key role in fast-tracking the approval process. This official, appointed during the previous government and still holding the same position, allegedly issued a circular to expedite the process, the minister added.
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