Leases granted to Penna Cement for limestone mining cancelled

Andhra Pradesh Government today issued an order cancelling the leases granted to Penna Cement Industries for limestone mining in an extent of 106.86 and 18.615 hectares respectively in Anantapuram district as the company failed to execute the leases granted.
An order issued by the Industries Secretary Sabyasachi Ghosh said Penna Cements held mining leases in an extent of 1105.975 hectares (11.06 sq km) in Anantapuram, Kurnool and Nalgonda districts.
The six mining leases were granted by the erstwhile Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government in 2008 and, as a quid pro quo, Penna Cements invested heavy funds in the companies floated by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

Penna Pratap Reddy is now facing charges in the Jagan's illegal assets case.
"Penna Cement Industries is holding mining leases all together in an extent of 1105.975 hectares which is in excess of 10 sq km limit prescribed under Section 6(1)(b) of Mines & Mineral (D&R) Act, 1957. Hence, the grant is treated as void as per Section 19 of Mines & Mineral (D&R) Act,1957," the Industries Secretary said in his order today.
Accordingly, he said the mining leases granted in Anantapuram district in an extent of 106.86 ha and 18.615 ha respectively were being withdrawn as the company has not yet executed the mining leases, Ghosh said.