CPI seeks probe into mining of Barytes

Communist  Party of  Idia  and the Telugu  Desam parties on Monday forced repeated adjournment of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly demanding that the government constitute a House Committee to probe into the illegal mining of Barytes in Khammam. They   alleged that the relative of former chief minister  late YS Rajasekhara Reddy were  given preferential treatment  in this regard.

The  oppsition  MLAs not  only  rised their  voice  against the  grnt  of mining  rights but  stormed the Speaker's podium demanding constitution of the House Committee even as the government rejected the plea.

Nadendla Manohar, the  Deputy  spekaer who was in the chair, was  frced  to  adjourn  the  House twice as  the  TDP members persisted with  their  demand.

K Sambasiva Rao, Cpi  MLA from Kothagudem, raised  the issue of illegal mining of Barytes ore  in  Khamam district.  The  MLA it as a larger scandal than the illegal mining of iron ore in Obulapuram on the AP-Karnataka border.

"Illegal mining of the valuable Barytes ore is being carried out in 1.37 lakh acres and the former chief minister YSR's son-in-law Anil Kumar and brother-in-law Ravindranath Reddy are involved in it," Sambasiva Rao alleged.

Mining Minister B Srinivasa Reddy, who is also a close relative of YSR, refuted the allegation and said the mining activity was being carried out by state-owned AP Mineral Development Corporation.