Harish Rao alleges massive mining scam, demands House Committee into Minister’s links

BRS leader T Harish Rao accused the Congress government in the Telangana Assembly of ignoring a large-scale illegal mining racket allegedly tied to Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy’s family firm. He demanded a probe, citing violations of environmental norms under G.O. 111.

Hyderabad: BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao stirred up a storm in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, accusing the ruling Congress government of turning a blind eye to a massive illegal mining racket allegedly linked to a firm associated with Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.

Citing precedents, he demanded that the government order a probe by a sitting judge or constitute a House Committee led by opposition members.

---

Raising the issue during the debate on the Mining department’s budget in the Assembly, Harish Rao presented documents, inspection reports, and official notices to back his claims of large-scale violations by Raghav Constructions, belonging to the Revenue Minister’s family.

He stated that the firm was operating stone crushers without mandatory clearances in violation of environmental norms, including restrictions under G.O. 111 in the Hyderabad periphery.

He said the very institutions meant to protect State resources were enabling their exploitation. “No rules, no permissions, only a brazen racket. The government is a mere spectator,” he charged, adding that the alleged violations were causing significant losses to the State exchequer.

According to the BRS leader, the company lacked essential approvals such as a Mineral Dealer License (MDL), Consent for Establishment (CFE), and Consent for Operation (CFO) from the Pollution Control Board. He alleged that the firm resorted to using diesel generators to run crushing units to evade regulatory scrutiny tied to electricity connections.

Citing official records, Harish Rao detailed a series of inspections and enforcement actions. A joint raid conducted on May 21, 2025, reportedly led to the seizure of 5,130 metric tonnes of illegally stored stone. A demand notice issued in February 2026 imposed a penalty of Rs 24 lakh, which was allegedly ignored by the firm. A subsequent inspection in March 2026 allegedly uncovered 11,200 metric tonnes of raw material, prompting another notice.

The BRSLP deputy leader alleged that mining officials formally communicated to the Pollution Control Board about pollution caused by the unit, affecting water bodies such as Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, contradicting the government’s public stance on environmental protection, particularly concerning the Musi River.

Questioning the government’s inaction, Harish Rao accused it of double standards. He cited BRS leader Gudem Madhusudhan Reddy’s arrest over a minor violation, contrasting it with the alleged leniency shown in this case.

“Is the law different for Opposition and ruling party Ministers?” he asked.

He asserted that as the Opposition, it was their duty to protect public resources and expose wrongdoings in the government.