Penna Cement's limestone mining leases cancelled

Media reports say that the Andhra Pradesh government on November 6 cancelled the limestone mining leases granted to Penna Cement Industries, saying the company had failed to execute them. Penna was granted leases in 106.86 hectares and and additional 18.615 hectares respectively in Anantapuram district. The AP government's order issued by Industries Secretary Sabyasachi Ghosh said that Penna Cements held mining leases in 1,105.975 hectares (11.06 square km) in Anantapuram, Kurnool and Nalgonda districts. The six mining leases were granted by former AP Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's government in 2008. Penna Cement Industries holds mining leases, altogether in an extent of 1105.975 hectares, which is in excess of 10 square kilometres limit prescribed under Section 6(1)(b) of the 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 issued.