Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation to exploit minerals in Bay of Bengal

Srikakulam: Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) will start exploration of minerals soon in sea shore areas of Bay of Bengal in Etcherla and Ranastalam mandals in Srikakulam district.

After conducting detailed survey, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) confirmed deposits of minerals like, Sillimanite, Rutile, Ilmenite, Monozite, Zircon and Garnet in the sea shore area in the two mandals.

Out of six minerals, Monozite deposits are more in sea shore areas. All these lands are belonging to government, forest department and residents. APMDC is maintaining two granite quarries in Tekkali and Polaki mandals and for the first time it has entered sea shore mining activity in the district.

To excavate these minerals, APMDC had recently entered into agreements with the government, forest department, farmers and fishermen. APMDC gets lease on lands in an extent of 8,325 acres at Kollibhimavaram, Jeerupalem, Kotapalem, Ramachandrapuram, Tekkali, NGR Puram, Mentada villages in Ranastalam mandal and Kuppili, Koyyam, Dharmavaram and Bonthalakoduru in Etcherla mandal.

APMDC executed lease agreements for 50 years period and registered at Ranastalam sub-registrar’s office recently to complete the legal formalities. Various private companies are excavating minerals from the sea shore across the district without following environmental guidelines. As a government corporation, APMDC will protect environment rules than private firms as it has no vested interests like private firms.

“At present we have two granite quarries in the district, one is near Tekkali mandal headquarters and other is at Kondalakkivalasa in Polaki mandal. Now we have entered beach sand mining activity along the shore in Etcherla and Ranastalam mandals,” APMDC General Manager Katamneni Venkata Ramana told The Hans India.