Avinash Reddy’s quarry: The Chimakurti region in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district is renowned for its granite, particularly the world-famous Galaxy quarries. Recent allegations suggest that Y.S. Avinash Reddy an MP from the Kadapa district, earned Rs. 100 crores from these quarries through unethical means.
During the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government, reports indicated widespread mining scams throughout the state. In the Chimakurti granite industry, operations were allegedly controlled by party leaders, with accusations that then-Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy was involved. It was claimed that the mining activities were managed under his influence and that Tadepalli Palace, associated with the CM, received a share of the revenue.
YSRCP Parliamentary Party meeting on July 20 | YS Jagan | Avinash Reddy | Midhun Reddy#YSJagan #YSRCPParliamentaryPartymeeting #MidhunReddy #SakshiTV pic.twitter.com/zvtPvFHFPY
— Sakshi TV Official (@sakshitvdigital) July 19, 2024
The Andhra Pradesh Mines Development Corporation (APMDC) owns 86 acres in the Galaxy Granite Quarries, with 25 acres under dispute. This leaves about 61 acres directly managed by APMDC. Of this, approximately 43 acres have been leased in a joint venture, attracting significant competition due to the high-quality granite deposits. Pratap Reddy, who operates quarries on private land, is Avinash Reddy’s uncle and a key figure in these operations.
For several years, Avinash Reddy’s family reportedly controlled the income from around 20 acres of the granite-rich land, generating an estimated Rs. 100 crores over five years, which averages about Rs. 3 crores per month. This substantial income came without significant investment. Questions remain about the distribution of this income and whether Jaganmohan Reddy also benefited from it.
When the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) came into power, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu vowed to investigate the irregularities in the mining sector. In response, the team responsible for the quarry operations, including those from Kadapa, reportedly fled to avoid scrutiny. This incident underscores ongoing concerns about corruption and abuse of power within the state’s mining industry.
