- Chandrababu Naidu government gives the green signal for mining in the sacred Mallanna Hills.
- Composite mining licences issued for 1,550 hectares.
- 900 hectares at Sadukonda allotted to AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC).
- 626 hectares in the Shivapuram Block allotted to a private company.
- Previous governments respected devotees’ sentiments and stayed away from mining in the Mallanna Hills.
- Chandrababu opposed mining in the Mallanna Hills while in the Opposition.
- After coming to power, he reversed his stand and initiated steps to exploit the mineral wealth.
One of Rayalaseema’s holiest Shaivite pilgrimage centres after Srisailam, the Mallanna Hills, is now facing the threat of iron ore mining. Chandrababu Naidu, who had earlier assured the public that “mining will not be allowed in the Mallanna Hills and devotees’ sentiments will be respected,” has now permitted mining activities in the same hills, inviting widespread criticism. Ignoring the religious significance of the shrine, the Reserved Forest status, and the ecological wealth of the region, the government has turned its attention towards mineral deposits worth thousands of crores.
As Sacred as Srisailam
The Mallanna Hills, comprising Mallayyakonda, Sadukonda and Inumukonda near Tamballapalle, are regarded as one of the most sacred Shaivite pilgrimage centres in Rayalaseema. Devotees believe that Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy manifested here as a Swayambhu (self-manifested) deity. The temple has enjoyed immense historical and spiritual importance since the Vijayanagara Empire. Every Monday, during the holy month of Karthika, and on Maha Shivaratri, lakhs of devotees visit the shrine.
Reserved Forest being converted into a Mining Zone
The hill range extends across nearly 6,700 hectares of Reserved Forest. The government has now granted composite mining licences covering 1,550 hectares within this protected forest area.
- 900 hectares in Sadukonda have been allotted to AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC).
- 626 hectares in the Shivapuram Block have been allotted to a private company.
With Letters of Intent (LoIs) already issued, surveys and mineral exploration activities have commenced.
Tenders Conducted Secretly
The government reportedly invited tenders confidentially in November last year and completed the bidding process on January 16. The tender process was conducted without informing local residents or devotees, giving rise to serious questions. Critics say the process was deliberately kept secret to avoid public opposition and complete the mining approvals before resistance could emerge.
Composite Mining Licences Issued by Dividing the Area into Two Blocks
The government divided the mining area into two separate blocks and issued Composite Licences.
A 900-hectare block at Sadukonda was allotted to the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC). During the e-auction conducted for this block, APMDC emerged as the Preferred Bidder by quoting the highest bid of 130.30% of the mineral value. The government collected a Performance Security of ₹1.50 crore from APMDC and issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) permitting mineral exploration.
Similarly, the 626-hectare Shivapuram Iron Ore Block in the same hill range was allotted to South West Mining Limited under a Composite Licence. The company emerged as the L1 bidder by quoting a final bid of 11.80%, furnished a ₹1.50 crore Bank Guarantee, and was subsequently issued a Letter of Intent (LoI). With these approvals, the mining process in the Mallanna Hills has officially commenced.
One Promise in 2009, Another Today
During the 2009 Assembly election campaign, Chandrababu Naidu personally declared that mining would never be allowed in the Mallanna Hills and assured devotees that their religious sentiments would be protected. His decision to now permit mining in the same hills has drawn criticism for being inconsistent with his earlier promise.
Previous Governments Respected Devotees’ Sentiments
As early as 2006, Central Government agencies identified hundreds of millions of tonnes of iron ore reserves in this region. Since then, several companies attempted to undertake mining operations. However, every attempt was withdrawn following protests by Lord Shiva devotees and local residents.
Successive governments also refrained from permitting mining in the area, respecting the religious sentiments of devotees. The present government’s decision to actively grant mining permissions has now become a subject of controversy.
Devotees’ Faith or Mineral Wealth Worth Thousands of Crores?
The Mallanna Hills are not merely mineral-bearing hills. They are a symbol of devotees’ faith and a centre of spirituality, natural beauty and biodiversity.
Local residents say converting such a sacred region into a mining zone amounts to hurting the religious sentiments of devotees. Environmental experts have also warned that mining activities could permanently damage the hills, forests, wildlife and water resources in the region.
Temple Development During Y.S. Jagan’s Government
During the tenure of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government, renovation and restoration works were undertaken at the Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, and several facilities, including drinking water and road infrastructure, were developed for devotees.
Despite the presence of valuable mineral reserves, the previous government did not permit mining, respecting the sentiments of devotees. The YSR Congress Party has strongly criticised the present government’s decision to grant mining permissions in the same sacred region.
One Question Being Raised by the Public
The question being asked by devotees and local residents is straightforward:
If Chandrababu Naidu once promised to protect the Mallanna Hills, why has the same government now opened them up for mining? Have mineral deposits worth thousands of crores become more important than the faith of millions of devotees?
People are demanding that the government explain why it chose to permit mining in a sacred Shaivite pilgrimage centre, Reserved Forest, ecologically sensitive zone and place of deep religious significance, disregarding the environmental, spiritual and public concerns associated with the region.
