Sand mining: Telangana, AP seek time on panel

Hyderabad: The TS and AP governments have urged the Hyderabad HC to grant time for taking a decision regarding the constitution of a high power committee to deal with complaints of illegal sand mining.

A bench comprising acting CJ Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt, while dealing with a PIL by Mruthyunjayam of Karimnagar seeking a direction to the authorities to stop the illegal excavation of sand by private parties from the Moolavagu stream by using earthmovers, asked about the status of the committee. The bench had suggested that both the governments should set up the committee and accord powers to it to cancel sand mining licenses.

TS counsel A. Sanjeev Kumar said a decision is yet to be taken on the panel and it would be informed on the next date of hearing.

The bench then posted the matter to Feb 1 for hearing.

for Telangana submitted that the number of cases regarding illegal sand mining have come down in the state particularly after the government's decision to sell the sand directly to customers through the mineral development corporation. He said that now there will be no role for private parties in excavation of sand.

When the bench pointed out about the progress in setting up the committee, the counsel replied that a decision is yet to be taken on the issue and that would be informed to the court on the next date of hearing.

Then the bench asked the counsel for AP government about the progress in constituting the committee.

Mr. Ramesh, AP special counsel replied that the government is examining the possibilities of constituting the committee. The bench then posted the matter to Feb 1 for hearing.