Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu addressing a public meeting after performing bhumi puja for the Jonnagiri gold mining project near Tuggali in Kurnool district on Wednesday.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday formally handed over gold produced from the Jonnagiri Gold Fields (JGF) to jewellery firms in Andhra Pradesh, marking the commencement of local sales from the GeoMysore Gold Mining Project at Jonnagiri in Tuggali mandal of Kurnool district.During his visit to the project site, Mr. Naidu inspected various mining facilities and interacted with company officials. He also visited a simulator-based training centre where women and youth from nearby villages are being trained to operate heavy vehicles used in mining operations.The Chief Minister later flagged off a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles deployed for transporting mineral-bearing ore from the mine. Officials informed him that the project was expected to generate employment opportunities in the surrounding villages and help create a skilled local workforce for mining and allied sectors.Addressing a gathering at the site, GeoMysore Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. Managing Director G. Prabhakaran said the gold produced at Jonnagiri would be supplied to jewellery manufacturers and traders within Andhra Pradesh, enabling greater value addition within the State.Mr. Prabhakaran said gold-bearing deposits had been identified up to a depth of 800 metres in the project area. The company, he added, was deploying advanced mining technologies while adhering to environmental safeguards.He said GeoMysore was committed to an inclusive development model and would work towards transforming villages around Jonnagiri into model villages. The benefits of the project, he said, would extend beyond the immediate mining zone and contribute to the economic development of the wider Kurnool region.Noting that India continued to rely heavily on imports to meet domestic gold demand, Mr. Prabhakaran said projects such as Jonnagiri could strengthen indigenous gold production. He also highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s mineral wealth, including titanium and rare earth mineral resources along the coast and bauxite reserves in north Andhra.On the occasion, Mr. Naidu felicitated noted geologist and mineral explorer Charles Davinish for his contribution to identifying gold deposits in the Jonnagiri region and supporting the development of the project.District in-charge Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, Mines Minister Kollu Ravindra, Industries Minister T.G. Bharat, Kurnool MP Bastipati Nagaraju, District Collector A. Siri, legislators from Kurnool and Nandyal districts, officials and coalition leaders attended the programme. Published - June 24, 2026 06:57 pm IST
