Sand mining goes on unabated in Kurnool

Kurnool: Unauthorised sand excavation continues in Kurnool district despite 'preventive measures' by official machinery because the sand lobby enjoys support of powers that be. Hundreds of tractors ply daily through the river beds carrying sand loads and sneak into neighbouring Telangana state to be transported to Hyderabad.

According to an insider, several layers operate in this trade. Panchalingala on the bank of river Tungabhadra sees the heightened quantity of sand being moved away, a resident of that village said, with at least 100 tractors passing daily with loads of sand. He said since a check post at the Y-junction was lifted, there has been no let up in sand transportation. That is the scene across the villages of Munagala, Nidz-ur and Singavaram, he said.

The government stopped sand auctions due to legal and administrative issues and the sand traders are minting money by taking away sand from Tungabhadra, Hagari and Handri rivers using tractors, mini trucks and even bullock carts.

As per government records, there are 11 sand reaches in the district with 10 along the Tungabhadra river and one in Hagari River from Kurool, Kodumur, Mantralayam, Alur and Pathikonda assembly constituencies. Unofficially sand reaches are located along Handri River from Dhone and Panyam segments.

Unauthorised sand mi-ning has been a regular phenomenon in Kurnool, Kallur, Kodumur, Veldurti, Dhone, Mantralayam, Holagunda, Pathikonda, Belagal and Godur mandals of the district.

Sand is also excavated from rivulets of Vakkileru and Kundu in the district. Some of the sand is being used for constructions, particularly buildings, houses, and government projects in the district.

It is feared that indiscriminate sand extraction may lead to environmental problems in the future. Official point out that excavating beyond the limits from deep into the river beds would cause ground water levels to decline in nearby villages along the river. Besides, there is a threat to the low-lying areas along the river during the rainy season.

Consistent sand policy needed
Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samiti president Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy pooh-poohed the AP government decision to provide sand for construction free of cost to curb illegal sand mining and pilferage.

He asked where quality sand was available within reach of the public. The cream of the sand bed has been looted by people close to authority and whatever left now is dust, clay and low grade sand that can't be used for constructing residential buildings.

Byreddy said that sand policy is a farce and government is toeing only the line of the influential people. Kurnool is the only town in AP having perennial rivers like Tungabhadra and Handri. The state's lopsided policies have denuded the city of its rich mineral wealth leaving it almost drained, he said.  

Mechanised policy
Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India former president Sekhar Reddy opined that machanised sand would bring down the cost and dependence of sand excavated from river beds. The SC has also lifted ban on machanised sand. He appealed to state to bring out a policy of permitting machanised sand mining.

Groundwater level plummets with indiscriminate mining
Andhra Pradesh is among the leading producers of sand. It supplies sand to Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. If sand mining continues to follow the current trend, more wells and aquifers in the floodplains will start drying up because sand mining lowers the riverbed.

It must be noted that sand in the riparian areas recharges groundwater through percolation of water from different layers of sand. But indiscriminate sand mining adversely affects the vertical and lateral movement of water and the groundwater recharge.

In AP, despite the provisions in the Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Tree Act, 2002, which aims to promote tree cover and regulate the exploitation and use of ground and surface water, sand mining has grown explosively. In 2006, the state announced a new policy that allows only manual labour and bullocks to mine sand in riverbeds.  Contrary to this, tractors and lorries are seen carrying the sand.