BRS leader reveals massive sand mining scam of over Rs.200 crore

Illegal mining activities increased exponentially under Congress regime, says Manne Krishank

Hyderabad: BRS spokesperson Manne Krishank on Thursday said the Revanth Reddy government was facilitating widespread illegal sand mining, leading to a sharp decline in the State tax revenue. He said the government’s sand income had dropped by Rs 200 crore since the Congress came to power, with revenues being diverted into private hands.

Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan on Thursday, Krishank said the illegal mining activities increased exponentially under the Congress regime. He revealed that the Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TSMDC) has issued orders for 24-hour sand mining, violating Government of India’s environmental regulations that permit operations only between 6 am and 7 pm. The TSMDC has now instructed its officials to work in three shifts: 7 am to 3 pm, 3 pm to 11 pm, and 11 pm to 7 am, as per an action plan to achieve a sand revenue target of Rs 831.94 crore.

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He said that this move was aimed at benefiting Revanth Reddy’s brother, A Kondal Reddy, rather than increasing State revenue. “In the name of providing free sand to Indiramma Houses, the Congress leaders are diverting the sand and looting the State revenue to fill their own pockets,” he said.

The BRS leader stated that during former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s tenure, sand revenue exceeded Rs 800 crore annually, whereas under the Congress government, revenue has significantly fallen. He pointed out that Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu had once praised Telangana’s sand policy, but the current administration had dismantled the model.

Krishank also raised concerns over frequent leadership changes in TSMDC, with five Managing Directors replaced in a year, indicating possible mismanagement. The BRS has demanded a legislative probe into all sand transactions and the withdrawal of policies that violate environmental norms.