AP Allocates 33% Quarry Leases to Vadderas
The Andhra Pradesh government has taken a significant step to support the traditional livelihood of the Vaddera community. Through a newly issued official order, the state has reserved 33 percent of minor mineral quarry leases for registered Vaddera Cooperative Societies. This landmark policy decision focuses on providing economic strength and social justice to the community workers.
The decision directly fulfills a major public commitment made by Minister Nara Lokesh during his state-wide YuvaGalam padayatra walking tour. During his journey, community members met with him to share their financial difficulties due to a lack of formal mining access. The current state leadership moved quickly to enact this change to secure traditional occupational rights.
Under the new guidelines, eligible cooperative societies will receive preferential allotments for mining essential local resources. These materials include building stone, gravel, road metal, rough boulders, and slate. To lower financial barriers, the government has also granted a massive 50 percent concession on both seigniorage fees and mandatory premium payments.
To ensure fair distribution across the state, each registered society can secure leases up to a maximum area of 12 hectares. The administration plans to set up a dedicated initial pool of 100 hectares of government land to jumpstart this initiative. Applications will be processed transparently through a structured system divided into eight clear cycles per calendar year.
Crucially, the policy includes strict safeguards to prevent corporate exploitation or fake ownership. The rules completely ban transferring or subleasing these properties to any outside individuals or external firms. Leases can only be transferred to another registered Vaddera cooperative society, ensuring that the real benefits remain entirely within the working community.
