Union Minister of State (MoS) for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) has given its in-principle approval for uranium production capacity expansion at some existing units in Andhra Pradesh.

In a written reply to a question asked by Sant Balbir Singh of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Singh said,"The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) initiated pre-project activities like obtaining statutory clearances, land acquisition, site development and R&D for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are in different stages of execution."

Singh further said that the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was carrying out integrated multi-disciplinary exploration (heliborne and ground geophysical surveys, ground geological, geochemical and radiometric surveys and drilling) in identified thrust areas of the country for undertaking uranium mining in the future.

These areas in A.P. are Ambakapalle, Nallagondavaripalle, Kumarampalle, Bakkannagaripalle, Sivaramapuram, Pincha and Nagayapalle in Kadapa district, Sarangapalli, Madinapadu and Tangeda in Palnadu, Bommarajupalle, Minchalapadu and Kappatralla in Kurnool and Katimayakunta and Varikuntapalle, in Annamayya district.