2017
7
TELANGANA FACT FILE
MINERAL WEALTH OF TELANGANA
The Telangana state has a unique geological set
up that can host a variety of mineral deposits of
economic value. Though several public
organizations have discovered various mineral
deposits, still there exists a huge scope for further
detailed exploration in search of new mineral
deposits in the state and involvement of private/
multinational companies has been started just in
the last decade.
Minerals are of great economic value and have
occupied a characteristic place amongst all the
economic resources. Minerals and mineral
industries have significant macro links with the
economy of a country. Mining activity generates
employment opportunities; is obviously an
important source of tax revenue and contributes
to national income thereby leading to economic
growth. In view of the significance minerals-hold
in Telangana, the paper makes an attempt to list
out all the mineral occurrences of the State and
the way forward for socio-economic growth.
There is significant mineral potential that still lay
untapped in Telangana for the growth of mining
industry.
Now that a separate State has been formed, a sys-
tematic regulatory and administrative procedures,
infrastructure facilities leading to sustainable
exploration and mining activity is being formu-
lated. The challenges like lack of sufficient water
storage systems, infrastructure etc. have limited
the overall investment in mining and exploration
activities in the state for the past few decades.
Now the department steered by Hon. Minister for
Mines and Geology Sri K.T.Rama Rao is ap-
plauded for its unforseen revenue growth
through sand ,and mineral mining surpasssing
budget targets and expectations. Mines Depart-
ment has registered a record 69 per cent growth
in revenue from minor minerals other than sand
in the first half of this fiscal year.
Telangana revenue from minor minerals during
April to September this year stood at Rs 357.41
crore against Rs 211.4 crore in the corresponding
period last year. It is targeted to generated Rs 10,000 crore
revenue through mining business every year and help the
government to sustain all the development and welfare
programmes in the coming years.
At present, the total revenue from mining was around Rs
3,000 crore only. This year, the government targeted Rs
3,500 crore including Rs 500 crore from sand mining. So
far, the Mining Department could generate only Rs 1,600
crore due to many hassles in granting permissions in the
existing policy. Not a single mining lease was granted to
mining companies this year, resulting the government
losing crores of rupees as royalty.
Today, many private and multinational companies are
setting up industries in Telangana for tapping the natural
resources available in a sustainable way while also contrib-
uting to its economic growth. What is needed is develop-
ment of storage systems, infrastructural facilities as well
as systematic exploration of these metallic, non-metallic and
radioactive mineral resources and other mining activities.
Metallic minerals such as Chromite (found as float ore) is
available in Khammam district. Mailaram area in this
district is known for Copper mineralization. Alluvial gold is