Illegal mining: Turf war on for sands of Telangana

Hyderabad: Illegal sand mining in Telangana is exposing chinks in the armour of TRS government and the party. Followers of ministers, MLAs and other public representatives of the TRS, especially in North Telangana, are trying to take control of illegal sand mining, which is leading to a turf war among them.

Mining officials are failing to control illegal sand mining due to the direct involvement of ruling party leaders. An increasing number of complaints are coming from the districts regarding illegal sand mining even after the High Court directed the government to curb the menace.

TRS circles expect Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to drop at least two ministers from the Cabinet for their involvement in illegal sand mining, in the next reshuffle, which is expected after Dasara.

The recent suicide by Ramesh Ramavath, a sub-inspector of police of Yalal in Ranga Reddy district, was attributed to a “politician-sand mafia nexus” by his family members and Opposition parties had alleged that transport minister P. Mahender Reddy and his followers were involved.