Nizamabad: Threat to Sri Ram Sagar Project due to sand smuggling

Nizamabad: Sand smugglers are not leaving even the Sri Ram Sagar Project (SRSP). They are digging sand from in between boulders of the dam revetment and piling it in the centre of the dam. They will transport the sand during nights.

Until a month ago, large number of sand dumps were sustained by floodwater from the upper reaches of the project. The project officials at that time took action to control illegal mining but sand mining did not stop. The officials reportedly not bothered whether sand is dumped in the project and piled up at the dam.

Floods from tributaries and upstream River Godavari into the Sri Ram Sagar Project causes the water to sweep over the dam, making silt in the project to come down and build up into sand.

This sand digging poses a serious problem to the project as the revetment may become weak, leading to the dam to collapse. The danger is more if floods hit the dam. SRSP ayacut farmers requesting the authorities concerned and the government to take urgent measures to protect the dam from collapsing due to sand mafia.