Laterite mining sites are swallowing land in Hyderabad

Laterite mining, both legal and illegal, is impacting the environment at localities surrounding Hyderabad city. Most of the mines are located amid social and reserve forest areas.

Laterite mine sites have been securing permissions and approvals from departments concerned for operations on specified acreage but later encroach neighboring reserve forest and social forest lands.

Further, laterite mines, concrete and stone crushing units at east and north Rangareddy district which supply laterite material to cement factories, are violating environmental acts and rules.

It has already been proved in several circumstances that laterite mines are among the biggest threats to the the environment.

About 40 laterite mines exist in Ranga Reddy district and in addition to this about 500 concrete and granite mines are located in the district.

As per guidelines issued by the High Court earlier, the mines should not be functioning inside the Outer Ring Road. The court had given these directions in view of threat to residential colonies in urban areas and environment.

Due to exemption given to five units inside the ORR earlier in view of their supplying material for the special economic zones, they continued functioning despite the lease period ending.

The Ranga Reddy district joint collector sent notices to these units six months ago but to no response. Manikonda deputy sarpanch L. Nagesh said that the mining at Manikonda, Puppalguda and Vattinagulapally under the IT corridor had become a threat to IT companies.

“Houses in surrounding areas are badly affected by the mining and frequent explosions. No unit is following norms. We have already brought the matter to the notice of the district collector,” he said.

Last month the government issued three more approvals for establishing new laterite mines in Ranga Reddy district. As per the minutes of the approval committee meeting held in the Pollution Control Board, 5.06 hectares laterite mines at Survey No. 32 in Arkatala village and 13.759 hectares laterite mines in Survey No. 52 of Yavapur in Nawabpet mandal were given approval.

Ranga Reddy district forest officer D. Srinivas said that if they found any encroachment of forest land by mining agencies, stringent action would be taken.