Visakhapatnam: Regional vigilance squad raids four mines, kicks up a storm

VISAKHAPATNAM: The regional vigilance squad of the mines and geology department, led by assistant director R Pratap Reddy, on Monday raided four black metal quarries of VRR Associates, a mining company owned by Vengamamba Srinivas Babu, at Krishnapuram area in Visakhapatnam and found several violations.
Later, speaking to media, Pratap Reddy said that some of the violations included rig blasting, which is dangerous given that stones from the explosion can fall on nearby the residences, illegal mining (excavation and transportation of more metal than shown in records) and irregulaties in billing.He claimed that the company has caused a revenue loss of over Rs 100 crore to the government. “We will impose penalty for the violations and illegal mining in a couple of days,” he added.
Only a few days ago Pratap Reddy and his team had raided the quarries of VRR Associates at Seethanagaram area in Anakapalle mandal and found violations there as well. Pratap Reddy had said that the company had violated safety norms and indulged in excess excavation causing loss to the government. He had imposed a fine of Rs 33 crore on VRR Associates.
However, the owner of VVR Associates Srinivas Babu has alleged that Pratap Reddy was targetting him because he refused to pay a bribe of Rs 3 crore. Srinivas Babu claimed that after assuming office, Pratap Reddy suggested that the miners pay him Rs 3 crore bribe. Reddy’s proposal was allegedly taken up at a meeting of association of mining firms where its district, president JV Narasimha Rao criticised Reddy for demanding such a large bribe at a time when the mining industry was in a crisis due to Covid-19.
“When we failed to pay the amount, Reddy immediately raided the quarries of Srinivas and Narasimha Rao without issuing any prior notices. Reddy slapped a fine of Rs 7 crore on Narasimha Rao and Rs 33 crore on me,” he alleged.
Dismissing the allegations, Pratap Reddy said that he would resign if anyone proved that he was corrupt.