Ongole, Nov. 25: Recently, the mines department in the state discovered enor-mous granite stocks beneath the road between Chimakurthi and Rajupalem-Laksh-mipuram. The department estimates that if the granite is excavated form beneath the road, the government could earn a royalty of at least Rs 500 crore.

Ongole, Nov. 25: The global meltdown has badly affected the exports of the world famous galaxy granite from Chimakurthi of Prakasam district. Chimakurthi, located about 25 km from Ongole on the Kurnool Road, is famous for a rare type of black granite which is not found anywhere else in the world. It is exported to all corners of the globe.

Salem

A delegation of the Trinamool Congress met the Tamil Nadu Governor Lt.
Surjit Singh Barnala to intervene and stop the Kanchamalai iron ore mining proposals.

The Trinamool Congress has launched a state-wide campaign to protect the environment and mineral resources of the State. They have been conducting rally and fasts to highlight degradation of environment and minerals at the hands of officials and politicians who pursue an apathetic environment policy .

Laiqh A. Khan

KOLLEGAL (Chamarajanagar district): After a 16-year lull, the forest areas of Kollegal region on Karnataka's border with Tamil Nadu will begin to resonate with the sound of explosives and the drone of excavators and trucks as quarrying for the valuable black granite is all set to resume.

The Government of Karnataka's Department of Mines and Geology has issued No Objection Certificates to 29 applicants seeking to carry out quarrying activities in revenue land adjoining the forest areas, where large deposits exist.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S.

After Veerappan, granite mining troubles