CCTVs to curb illegal sand mining

Srikakulam: Following directions from the government, the district administration has planned to arrange CCTV cameras at sand reaches to prevent violations.

The district administration has taken this decision in view of 16 sand lorries and four earth movers ventured into mining violating all established norms in Vamsadhara river at Purusottapuram village in Sarubujjili mandal of Amudalavalasa Assembly segment on July 15 night. 

This incident exposed the failure of mines, police, revenue and district administration in preventing illegal mining operations and ban on use of machines at sand reaches. 

To prevent the illicit mining operations, the state government directed the district collector and mines and geology department officials to take necessary steps by arranging surveillance cameras at sand reaches.

As per government orders, the district administration will install CCTV cameras on an experimental basis at Butchipeta and Tenelavalasa sand reaches in Narasannapeta mandal.

The sand from these two reaches was allotted to government works in Visakhapatnam city. At Butchipeta, 40,000 cubic meters and at Tenelavalasa 17,000 cubic meters can be excavated as per the government orders.

Blue Frog, a Visakhapatnam-based organisation will provide technical support for maintenance of CCTV cameras. With the installation of CCTV cameras, sand mining can be monitored from Collector’s office and mines department office round-the-clock.

“CCTV cameras will be arranged at all sand reaches across the district in a phased manner to prevent exploitation of resources than permitted limit,” said mines and geology assistant director Randhi Tammi Naidu to The Hans India.