Andhra Pradesh state government has decided to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the granite quarries. This is to prevent the revenue loss as most of the quarry owners are shifting the granite blocks to polishing units through shortcuts without paying royalty. 
At present the royalty is collected on the basis of quantity in cubic meters, but the state government has decided to collect tax on granite blocks based on the weight of the block. In the name of levy of consideration, the government has already increased the royalty by 50 percent. 

Most quarry owners are dodging the tax payments by moving the blocks illegally. The guidelines issued by the director of mines and geology department say that CCTV cameras should be installed in the quarry and GPS tracking should be put in the transportation vehicle. Mines and geology officials will grant e-Permit to the vehicles to transport granite only if the above conditions are met. 

Srikakulam district has 100 granite quarries in Tekkali, Nandigama, Saravakota, Pathapatnam, Kotabommali mandals. Mines and geology assistant director R Rajesh Kumar said that notices to install CCTVs have been issued to the granite quarries’ owners.