Illegal sand mining goes unabated in Karimnagar

KARIMNAGAR: Despite opposition by the public, illegal sand mining is going unabated in Karimnagar district.Contractors are mining sand, with temporary permission, at Kandikotkur in Illanthakunta mandal. With the same licence, they are also reportedly carrying out quarrying round-the-clock under Manawada Pottoru bridge in Boinpalli mandal.Villagers of Mallapur, near Manawada, reportedly argued with contractors over illegal sand transportation several times.Unable to check the contractors, they approached revenue officers but no action was initiated so far. The contractors, in violation of rules, laid a gravel road into the stream to enable easy transportation of sand from the water body.The villagers also complained of damage to road in the village due to frequent plying of sand-laden trucks and other vehicles.It is learnt that contractors are mining sand in violation of Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Tree Act (WALTA).Huge machines are being used to excavate sand beyond the permitted levels at both quarries.According to the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (MDC) rules, sand quarrying should be carried out only for a depth of 2 metres from the ground level.But it was found that contractors are digging out sand beyond the limit and going up to 5-6 metres deep. For this, contractors are using machines which is also against WALTA. The Act states that mining should be done manually.Indiscriminate mining, farmers fear, can lead to depletion of groundwater which might affect waterlevels in agriculture wells.Moreover, the sand excavated from Kandikotkur, it is learnt, should be used for government works like projects and other welfare works.But the permit holders were found to be transporting the sand to Hyderabad for some private works.More than 100 trucks of sand, it was reported, was being carried away from both places, Kandikotur and Manawada, to Hyderabad everyday.Contractors, official sources said, were paying to the MDC a meager Rs 146 for quarrying sand in one cubic metre of sand while selling the same for an exorbitant Rs 1000.When contacted, Illanthakunta revenue inspector Khadar Ali told this paper that he has no information about illegal sand mining.