South Africa tour of India 2019
Harish Rao Alleges Massive Mining Scam, Seeks Probe
Senior leader T Harish Rao has accused the Telangana government of ignoring a large-scale illegal mining operation allegedly linked to a firm associated with Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.
Raising the issue in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, Harish Rao called for an independent investigation, either through a sitting judge or a House Committee led by opposition members. He claimed that the alleged violations involve serious breaches of environmental norms, particularly those under G.O. 111 regulations in the Hyderabad region.
According to Rao, the firm—identified as Raghav Constructions—was operating stone crushers without essential clearances, including a Mineral Dealer License and approvals from the Pollution Control Board. He alleged that diesel generators were used to bypass regulatory scrutiny linked to electricity usage.
Presenting inspection reports and official notices, Rao detailed multiple enforcement actions. A raid in May 2025 reportedly led to the seizure of over 5,000 metric tonnes of illegally stored stone, while subsequent inspections uncovered even larger quantities. He also highlighted unpaid penalties and continued violations.
The BRS leader warned that such activities were causing environmental damage to key water bodies like Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar.
Accusing the government of double standards, Rao contrasted the alleged leniency in this case with stricter action taken against opposition figures for minor violations. He argued that the issue reflects systemic failures in governance and enforcement.
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