From Our Correspondent
Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh state government has officially implemented a major mining policy overhaul by reserving up to 33% of allottable quarry areas for registered Vaddera Cooperative Societies. Issued by the Principal Secretary of Mines under GO 126, the directive introduces strategic amendments to Rules 4, 10, and 12 of the APMMC Rules of 1966 to safeguard the livelihood of the state’s traditional stone-cutter community.
The decision honors a specific public pledge made by IT Minister Nara Lokesh during his Yuvagalam padayatra to restore mining privileges previously stripped from the community.
Key Highlights of the Revised Mining Policy
| Policy Provision | Specification / Limit | Target Beneficiaries |
| Quarry Reservation | 33% of allottable cycle areas | Registered Vaddera Cooperative Societies |
| Financial Subsidy | 50% concession on seigniorage fees & premiums | Eligible Vaddera mining groups |
| Maximum Lease Area | Up to 12–13 hectares per society | District-level allocated quarry pools |
| Anti-Exploitation Clause | Strict ban on sub-leasing/transfers | Prevents external commercial takeover |
District-Wide Quarry Pools & Subsidized Operations
Under the newly amended guidelines, the Mines Department will establish a dedicated Quarry Pool system across all districts, setting aside an average of 100 hectares (approximately 247 acres) per district specifically for the Vaddera community. To make operations financially viable, the government has authorized a massive 50% concession on seigniorage fees and premium amounts payable by these societies. Each registered society is eligible for a preferential lease up to a maximum extent of 12 to 13 hectares.
To streamline bureaucratic delays, a newly formulated Evaluation Slot system will divide and scrutinize lease applications into eight distinct 45-day batches over the calendar year.
Strict Measures Against Third-Party Exploitation
To ensure that the financial benefits directly reach the intended grassroots workers, the notification explicitly prohibits the transfer, assignment, or sub-leasing of these quarry leases to any external entity or non-Vaddera corporation. Any violation of this anti-takeover provision will result in immediate lease cancellation after a formal legal review.
The revised framework has been formally published in an extraordinary issue of the Andhra Pradesh Gazette. Welcoming the move, leaders from the Vaddera community expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, celebrating it as a historic step toward structural economic empowerment.