Telangana state to focus more on mining to generate revenue

Hyderabad: The Telangana government feels that though the state has rich mining ores, the sector has been neglected by the previous governments. With this very thought, the mining process would be undertaken seriously by the government, according to sources.

It is learnt that the industries department is in the process of chalking out plans to give a boost to the mining sector in nine districts of Telangana by encouraging firms to set up refineries and industries to mine manganese, iron and quartz.

It is evident that a proposal for setting up of pellets plant with an investment of Rs 1,000cr in Telangana has come from NSL Consolidated, a bulk Commodities Company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. KCR, the chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh was called on by the delegates of the company on Wednesday and shared the information with him about their plans. Later, they said they were willing to set up the pellets plant using very low grade iron ore available in Medak and Karimnagar districts, according to sources. It is worth mentioning here that NSL Consolidated is into iron ore production in India and thermal coal exploration in Australia.

Also, 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. Nevertheless, the government will put a pre-condition that the industry has to be set up at the same place where mining is permitted.