Floods expose illegal sand mining in Vamsadhara river

Srikakulam: Floods exposed illegal sand mining in Vamsadhara river at Purusottapuram reach in Sarubujjili mandal. Four days ago due to floods 23 sand laden lorries, four earth movers and 53 workers were stranded in the river. As per mining rules, earth movers and lorries are not allowed into the ramp to excavate and shifting of sand.

But since March 18 this year after allotment of the reach, sand miners from Visakhapatnam exploiting the sand without following rules with alleged support of TDP Amudalavalasa Assembly segment leaders. Here supervisors were appointed from Amudalavalasa and Etcherla Assembly segments with the support of TDP leaders and they had been collecting Rs 5,000 per lorry. In turn, sand miners selling the sand in Visakhapatnam for Rs 15,000 per load.

After exposure of illegal sand mining, Collector K Dhanunjaya Reddy cancelled sand reach and directed the revenue staff to maintain vigil. The Collector rapped mines and geology department assistant director A Sivaji for his inability to regulate lorries and earth movers into the reach. With warning of the Collector, mines and geology department assistant director and Sarubujjili tahasildar lodged a complaint with police against the sand miners. But police not yet taken action against the illegal sand miners.

Meanwhile. in the early hours of Thursday sand mafia members tried to shift an earth mover from Purusottapuram reach through Ramakrishnapuram road with alleged police support but it was foiled with alert of locals.