Andhra Pradesh to take up gold mining soon

TIRUPATI: The state government will soon give its nod for mining gold and diamonds in the state.Disclosing this to newsmen here on Wednesday, mines minister Galla Aruna Kumari said that mining of gold and diamonds in the state was stopped several years ago."Now, with increasing demand for gold and diamonds and increasing costs, more than 100 organisations have shown interest in mining gold and diamonds and some have even taken up aerial survey for the same. I discussed it with chief minister and a decision would be taken soon. In all probability, the process will commence in another two months,' she said. Surveys for the same would be conducted in Chittoor, Anantapur, Kurnool and Mahboobnagar districts, she added.Maintaining that she would strive hard in any portfolio that was given to her, Aruna Kumari said: "I had done my best as health minister and later as R B minister and now an important portfolio has been given to me and I will do justice to it.'