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Andhra Pradesh’s gold rush: State eyes 4 tonnes annual output, 40,000 critical-mineral jobs, says Mines Secretary
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Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as a critical-mineral powerhouse, with plans to ramp up gold production and exploit its vast reserves of beach-sand minerals, state Mines and Geology Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena told Mint in an interview.The state made history in June with the launch of India’s first private gold mining project at Swarnagiri, formerly known as Jonnagiri, in Kurnool district. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated commercial operations of the gold mine, marking a significant milestone for the country’s mining sector.Operated by Geomysore Services India Pvt. Ltd, the ₹405-crore project is expected to generate jobs and boost state revenue, with ambitious production and expansion plans.Gold exploration apart, Andhra Pradesh has also identified commercially significant quantities of around 16 critical minerals across the Uttarandhra coastal belt and the mineral-rich ranges of Rayalaseema, Meena said.View full Image Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu flags off the mining operations by inaugurating India’s largest private-sector gold mining project at Jonnagiri (now Swarnagiri), in Kurnool on June 24.(@ncbn X)According to the AP Economic Development Board (APEDB), 182 mines along the state’s 1,060-km coastline are believed to hold substantial rare-earth and beach-sand mineral deposits, including rutile, monazite and ilmenite. Andhra Pradesh has an estimated 211 million tonnes of heavy beach sand.The Andhra Gold RushThe 1,500-acre Swarnagiri gold project has a projected gold resource of around 50 tonnes, while annual refined-gold production is expected to reach 800-1,000 kg.“In Swarnagiri, we are starting with 400-500 kg per annum, but we have other areas also which we are acquiring for them. At least 1,500 acres have been given to them in Swarnagiri,” Meena said.“We expect production of 1,000 kg or one tonne from next year. One tonne of gold saves $140 million in foreign exchange. The state government itself will get ₹100 crore in royalty,” he said.Exploration is also underway in other areas. The Chikurgunta-Bisanatham gold block in Chittoor district is ready for a mining lease and has an estimated 16-17 tonnes of gold resources, Meena said.“This year, we will auction composite licences for six more gold blocks, taking the total to seven. Over the next two to three years, mining is expected to begin in these areas,” he said.Swarnagiri is expected to produce 1,000 kg of gold annually by next year and more than 2,000 kg within two years as exploration expands. Chigurgunta-Bisanatham could add another one tonne annually within three years.“Overall, we expect 3-4 tonnes of annual gold production within the next three to four years,” Meena said.Beach-sand mineralsAndhra Pradesh also has significant potential in beach-sand mineral exploration, particularly in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts, where the state has deposits of titanium-bearing minerals such as monazite, rutile and ilmenite.The state accounts for roughly 25 per cent of India’s coastal beach-sand mineral wealth, including extensive deposits of ilmenite, rutile, zircon and monazite.“In a few years from now, Andhra has the potential to cater to 100 per cent of India’s titanium requirements. We want to make India self-sufficient in its titanium requirement,” Meena said.Ilmenite is the primary ore used to produce titanium dioxide pigment, which is widely used in paints, plastics and paper.At present, around 90% of India’s titanium pigment requirement is imported. The country’s annual requirement is estimated at 4.5-5 lakh tonnes, Meena said.“Our target is that by 2029-30, we would be able to produce 7 lakh tonnes of ilmenite and almost 40,000 tonnes of monazite. Seven lakh tonnes of ilmenite can realistically produce around 3.5-4 lakh tonnes of titanium pigment, which can meet the country’s 100% requirement,” he said.Jobs and investmentThe Andhra Pradesh government expects the mineral sector to generate significant employment.“We
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday launched the 'School Thik Karo' campaign from his native village of Santuk Pimpri in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district, calling for a nationwide social audit of government schools and better basic facilities for students.Dipke inspected a Zilla Parishad school in the village after attending an Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony. During the visit, he alleged that the school lacked adequate basic infrastructure, including drinking water and functional toilets.He also flagged broken windows and a shortage of benches for students."If basic things like water are missing from government-run schools even 80 years after India became independent, how is the country going to develop?" Dipke told reporters, according to PTI.In a video posted on social media, Dipke was seen interacting with students and asking them about facilities at the school. He listed the lack of drinking water, inadequate benches, dirty washrooms, broken windows and insufficient water supply among the problems highlighted during the inspection.Dipke also shared visuals of a school toilet and questioned its condition, asking, "How is any kid supposed to use this toilet?"He said the village sarpanch had assured him that the problems would be addressed within a week.What is 'School Thik Karo' campaign?Dipke said the campaign would involve collecting information on basic facilities in government schools across Maharashtra and other parts of the country.The CJP plans to provide a standardised assessment form through social media, allowing parents and residents to report deficiencies by uploading videos and other information about schools.The proposed checklist will cover facilities such as electricity, drinking water, separate functional toilets for boys and girls, benches and the quality of midday meals.Dipke said parents, residents and sarpanchs would be encouraged to identify shortcomings and work towards addressing them. Sarpanchs would also be encouraged to document improvements through before-and-after photographs and share them to encourage similar efforts elsewhere.He said he would visit government schools in other talukas of Maharashtra in the next phase of the campaign.Dipke raises questions over government school infrastructureDipke alleged that government schools had been neglected by successive governments and said people should question authorities over the use of public funds.He claimed that more than 94,000 government schools had been shut across India over the past decade and questioned how the education system could be strengthened if schools were being closed.He also alleged that rural students face difficulties in accessing schools because of poor roads and lack basic facilities such as drinking water and toilets."There should be freedom of equal opportunities. Until equal opportunity is available, we cannot say that our country is developing," he said.Dipke also questioned expenditure on large banners put up in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar during a Tiranga rally attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, arguing that such money could instead have been used to improve schools.CJP to raise public healthcare issuesDipke said the campaign would not be limited to education and that the CJP would also launch a similar campaign highlighting problems in government hospitals.He alleged that patients at public hospitals sometimes have to sleep on floors and face long waits for surgeries and diagnostic tests.The CJP founder also called for regulation of private school fees, claiming that some families pay between ₹1 lakh and ₹1.5 lakh for education."People are paying ₹1-1.5 lakh in fees. How will poor children get education? Therefore, fees of private schools should be capped," he said.The CJP came to prominence after it led a protest against the alleged irregularities in NEET exam at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The protest culminated in the resignation of then Union education
Mumbai rains impacted flights operations on Tuesday morning which prompted SpiceJet to issue a passenger advisory. SpiceJet issued a passenger advisory on Tuesday morning due to inclement weather over Mumbai.Mumbai rains impacted flights operations on Tuesday morning which prompted SpiceJet to issue a passenger advisory. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted wet spells for Madhya Maharashtra and Marathawada till 16 August. Isolated heavy rainfall likely over Madhya Maharashtra till 12 August, IMD said in its latest weather bulletin.The airline in its weather advisory stated, “Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights might get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via http://spicejet.com/#status.”Mumbai woke up to cloudy skies and light rainfall in some parts.A social media user on X complained of leaking roof of Platform 2 of Hooghly station due to sudden torrential rain and alerted authorities for prompt action. He tagged Divisional Railway Manager of Howrah division and Eastern Railway to bring the matter to their notice. “A sudden torrential rain has caused the roof of Platform 2 of Hooghly station to leak this way. Please @drmhowrah @EasternRailway look into this matter as early as possible,” the post said.Passenger advisory ahead of Independence Day celebrationsChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Mumbai issued a passenger advisory effective till 20 August ahead of Independence Day celebrations. The advisory said, “In view of the heightened security measures and mandatory checks being implemented at #MumbaiAirport from 10 August to 20 August 2026 on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations, passengers are advised to arrive early and plan their journey accordingly.”SpiceJet also urged passengers to be mindful of enhanced security measures due to which security checks and airport formalities may take additional time. It advised passengers to arrive at the airport well in advance of their scheduled departure.“Passengers travelling between 11th and 20th August 2026 are advised to arrive at the airport well in advance of their scheduled departure. Enhanced security measures may require additional time for security checks and airport formalities. Please plan accordingly and allow extra time for a smooth and hassle-free journey,” the advisory issued on Monday said.About the AuthorFareha NaazFareha Naaz is a Delhi-based journalist and Content Producer at LiveMint, where she has built nearly three years of experience in digital journalism. She covers a diverse range of topics, including national news, education, entertainment, lifestyle trends science, global health and international news. With a background in Economics and Education, she focuses on providing insightful, thoroughly researched coverage that bridges the gap between breaking news and in-depth analysis. In addition to breaking copies, legal and political news, her reporting blends editorial rigour with search-driven storytelling. With a keen eye-on-global events, she provides insightful coverage on latest developments. Her reporting combines editorial rigour with in-depth coverage and search-driven storytelling provide valuable insight and context to readers, ensuring accuracy and relevance. Her newsroom experience helped her in combining her critical thinking skills with real-time editorial decision-making. Over the years, she has been presenting complex stories with clarity for a digital-first audience amid fast-paced news cycles. Her thoroughly researched stories, with well-structured and engaging content, provide readers with clear understanding of the context and background. Fareha holds a Master’s degree in Economics, in addition to a Bachelor of Education degree. When not in the newsroom, she enjoys painting and sports, reading books and current developments. Get Latest real-time updatesStay updated
Delhi-NCR battled waterlogging and rain-induced traffic snarls on rainiest August day of the season amid IMD's red alert. Every 2 in 3 surveyed resident reported rain related vehicle damage due to standing water as sewage systems choked to absorb the gush of water.A total of 63% Delhi-NCR residents surveyed reported rain related vehicle damage due to waterlogging.(HT_PRINT)Delhi-NCR rains over the past two days wreaked havoc. The showers not only disrupted day to day life but also brought economic costs as commuters spent hours in gridlock due to waterlogged roads. Compounding the costs were vehicle repair bills that came along because of damage from standing rainwater as sewage systems choked to absorb the gush of water. A survey conducted by Local Circles revealed that nearly 63% of Delhi-NCR residents surveyed, incurred additional maintenance and repair cost on their vehicle due to waterlogging after their vehicle got stuck in traffic jams.Two in three respondents complained of a repair bill that most motor policies would not cover. This economic cost is beyond the loss of productivity and working hours because of the delay and disruption in traffic movement. The report further highlights that 75% respondents said that they lost productivity and working hours while 88% complained of extra time spent in traffic. Nearly 25% of those surveyed reported other issues and 13% said they met an accident.These findings follow Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) heavy rain alert for 6 and 7 August. Safdarjung recorded 98.7 mm of rain in 24 hours period ending at 8:30 am on 8 August, Lodhi Road registered 86.8 mm rainfall, at Palan this figure stood at 104.6 mm and Ridge recorded 89.8 mm rain, making it the rainiest August day of the season so far. Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSThe recent Delhi rains caused significant economic loss, with 63% of surveyed residents reporting vehicle damage due to waterlogging, leading to additional maintenance and repair costs.Seventy-nine percent of Delhi NCR residents rated their local administration's waterlogging preparedness as poor or worse, highlighting concerns about inadequate infrastructure and management during monsoon season.The heavy rainfall resulted in severe traffic congestion across Delhi, with many major roads reporting significant delays due to waterlogged conditions and flooding.Incidents like schoolchildren falling into hidden drains due to flooding raised serious safety concerns, emphasizing the risks associated with inadequate drainage systems in heavily waterlogged areas.Yes, the India Meteorological Department forecasted ongoing rain across Delhi, with red alerts indicating moderate to heavy rainfall expected to persist in the coming days.Authorities issued a second work-from-home advisory for Friday after the weather office upgraded warning to red alert from orange. The survey covered residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad and recorded over 11,000 responses.Were city authorities and local administration fully prepared to face August rains?Over preparedness of authorities to tackle rain, the report said, “79% Delhi NCR residents surveyed rate their local administration as poor or worse when it comes to water logging preparedness. Asked to rate their city administration on water logging preparedness this monsoon season, 50% rated it pathetic and another 29% rated it poor, taking the negative rating to 79%. 21% rated it average and not one respondent rated it good or very good.”On 7 August, significant traffic disruption was reported after few hours of rain at several key locations, including Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, ITO, Wazirabad Road, Patel Road, Rohtak Road, Shankar Road, the Kirti Nagar stretch, the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, Peeragarhi, Shaheen Bagh, GT Road, GTB Enclave, Dilshad Garden, Mahipalpur T-Point, Chhatarpur, Shakarpur, Dakshinpuri, Okhla, Sangam Vihar and Sainik Farms, Fatehpur Beri's Valmiki Basti, MB Road near the Air Force Stati
Live UpdatesWeather Today LIVE: Meanwhile, Delhi will continue to witness rainfall for the third consecutive day on Saturday. The IMD issues red and orange alerts in parts of Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad on August 8.Noida, India-August 07, 2026:Commuters making their way through a waterlogged path at the Sector 62 road following heavy rain, in Noida, India, on Friday, August 07, 2026. Continuous rainfall led to water accumulation on several roads Weather Today LIVE: Heavy rainfall will continue in parts of India for the next few days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. It said that under the influence of the likely formation of a low-pressure area over the coastal areas of Gangetic West Bengal & adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over East India (Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Gangetic West Bengal) during the next three days.The IMD also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala, Coastal & South Interior Karnataka this weekend. "...heavy rainfall likely to continue over many parts of northwest & adjoining Central India and Northeast India during most days of the week," the weather department said.Delhi, Gurgaon rains:Meanwhile, Delhi will continue to witness rainfall for the third consecutive day on Saturday. The IMD issues red and orange alerts in parts of Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad on August 8.The red alert for extremely heavy rainfall was issued in New Delhi, Southwest Delhi, Southeast Delhi, and South Delhi. Meanwhile, an orange alert predicting very heavy rainfall has been issued in North Delhi, Northwest Delhi, West Delhi, Central Delhi, East Delhi, Northeast Delhi and Shahadra region.For August 8, the IMD predicted, "Generally cloudy sky [in Delhi]. A spell of very light to light rain at many places with moderate rain at isolated places during early morning to noon. Another spell of very light to light rain at many places in the evening/night."The maximum and minimum temperatures over Delhi are likely to be in the range of 33°C to 35°C and 22°C to 24°C, respectively, the IMD said.Key Events08 Aug 2026, 05:58 AM IST08 Aug 2026, 05:52 AM IST08 Aug 2026, 05:48 AM ISTFollow updates here:8 Aug 2026, 05:58:34 AM ISTWeather Today LIVE: ‘Gurugram Police Remained Fully Alert Amid Continuous Rain’In a post on X, the Gurugram Police said it remains fully alert amid continuous rainfall in the city.It said, “During heavy rainfall, Gurugram Police promptly removed broken-down vehicles using cranes to keep traffic flowing smoothly, safely escorted schoolchildren, senior citizens, and Kanwariyas across roads, and prioritized ambulances and other emergency vehicles to reach their destinations on time.”"Trees that fell due to rain and other obstacles were cleared to maintain continuous traffic arrangements on major routes. Gurugram Police appeals to the general public to drive cautiously during rain and follow traffic rules,' police added.8 Aug 2026, 05:52:50 AM ISTWeather Today LIVE: Heavy rain in Rajasthan; wet spell to continue till Aug 10Several parts of Rajasthan, including the state capital, received heavy rainfall on Friday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of heavy to very heavy showers in the coming days.The rain, it said, comes as the southwest monsoon became active again.According to the IMD's Jaipur centre, Alwar recorded 19.4 mm rainfall during the day, while Jaipur and Dausa received 4 mm each, and Sangaria 3.5 mm.8 Aug 2026, 05:48:09 AM ISTWeather Today LIVE: Heavy rainfall continues to lash Delhi, GurugramWeather Today LIVE: Heavy rainfall lashed lashed Delhi and Gurugram in the early hours of Saturday. The IMD has predicted continuous rainfall in the NCR.About the AuthorAkriti AnandAkriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with more than six years in the news industry. In her current role, she co
The IMD's latest weather bulletin has flagged severe rain warnings for multiple regions, including parts of Delhi-NCR, Kerala, and OdishaCommuters were seen moving about during the rain (HT)As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues heavy-to-very-heavy rainfall alerts across several states for Saturday, August 8, students and parents are awaiting clarity on potential school closures. However, authorities have confirmed that there is no centralised, nationwide mandate to keep educational institutions shut.The decision to declare a school holiday rests entirely with state governments and local district administrations. Officials have emphasised that closures will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on localised ground realities such as severe waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and overarching safety risks.The IMD's latest weather bulletin has flagged severe rain warnings for multiple regions, including parts of Delhi-NCR, Kerala, and Odisha, prompting widespread concern regarding schedule disruptions. Parents and students are advised to rely on official communications from their respective district magistrates or individual school boards for the final word on localised closures.Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSNo, schools in Delhi-NCR will remain open on August 8 despite the heavy rainfall. Any change in status will depend on local weather conditions.Schools in specific districts of Kerala, like Ernakulam and Thrissur, are closed due to a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall, while there is no statewide closure mandating all schools to shut.Local authorities assess conditions such as waterlogging and safety risks to make case-by-case decisions regarding school closures during heavy rainfall.Parents should follow official communications from their district magistrates or school boards to get the latest updates on potential school closures due to rain.The IMD has issued heavy rainfall warnings for Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and several northeastern states.IMD issues heavy rain alertThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a widespread weather alert for August 8, warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across several parts of the country as the monsoon remains active:Delhi-NCRUttar PradeshBiharJharkhandHimachal PradeshUttarakhandPunjabHaryanaRajasthanWest BengalNortheast statesAre schools closed in Delhi-NCR tomorrow?Despite heavy rainfall, waterlogging and road closures, Delhi schools have not officially declared a holiday for Saturday, August 8. The IMD has issued alerts for rain and possible thunderstorms across the Delhi-NCR region.Schools in Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad are also expected to remain open. A last-minute notice based on weather conditions will likely change this.Red alert in Kerala — Schools, Colleges closedThe IMD has issued a red alert for Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts of Kerala, indicating the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall.All educational institutions in Ernakulam and Thrissur will remain closed on Saturday. Holidays had already been declared for educational institutions in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.There is no statewide announcement confirming school closure.Will Odisha schools remain closed tomorrow?The IMD issued a heavy rainfall alert across Odisha, issuing a "red warning" for the Mayurbhanj district.An "orange warning" is in place for 19 districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, and Jajpur. The remaining 10 districts of Odisha, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghapur, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh, are also put under “yellow warning”.However, as of now, there is no statewide announcement confirming school closure in Odisha for tomorrow.Schools to remain closed in several Uttar Pradesh districtsSchools and colleges in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, will remain closed until August 12 due to t
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