Sand mining posing a threat to water schemes

Srikakulam: Illegal and indiscriminate sand mining is posing a threat to drinking water schemes in Nagavali river in Regidi mandal. The Rural Water Supply (RWS) department is maintaining well and filtration galleries at Boddavalasa village in the river under Sankili panchayat limits in Regidi mandal. The water schemes are supplying safe and protected drinking water to 62 villages in Regidi and Rajam mandals.

As per guidelines, sand shall not be excavated from the river below 500 metres distance from the wells and filtration galleries. But sand mafia is not caring about rules and safety. Sand mining is going on below 100 metres from the wells and filtration galleries indiscriminately and illegally.

Several times staff working at water schemes tried to prevent illegal sand excavation near the wells and filtration galleries but sand mafia is threatening them with dire consequences with alleged political support. Fearing about their life and personal liberty, the staff complained to their higher officials.

In turn, they wrote a letter to Palakonda revenue divisional officer (RDO) for prevention of illegal sand mining for safety of water schemes. The letter proves how the sand miners are violating the rules only for their personal gain. The RWS officials also brought the issue to the notice of District Collector.

RDO of Palakonda Reddy Gunnayya issued directive to tahsildar of Regidi for curbing the illegal sand mining and asked the mines and geology department assistant director for its prevention in the letter dated August 21, 2018.