Hearing on illegal sand mining plea

Hyderabad: The PIL bench of the High Court at Hyderabad on Thursday adjourned to February 1 for further hearing the issue of illegal sand mining in the two states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice SV Bhatt was dealing with a public interest writ petition filed by Katakam Mruthyunjayam of Karimnagar district.

The petitioner alleged that some private parties from Moolavagu and surrounding villages were illegally carrying out excavation of sand by using JCB machines during day and night in violation of the Telangana State Sand Mining Rules 2015. A Sanjeev Kumar, Special Government Pleader informed the court that the number of cases relating to illegal sand mining had come down in the State particularly after the government's decision to sell the sand directly to the customers through the State's Mineral Development Corporation Limited.

“Now there will be no role for the private parties in excavation of sand for the purpose. In this regard, the government will file a counter affidavit explaining the steps taken to check the illegal sand mining activity”, he said. When the bench enquired about the constitution of a high-power committee as advised by it, he informed the bench that a decision was yet to be taken on the issue and that would be informed to the court by next date of case hearing.

The counsel appearing for Andhra Pradesh government informed the court that the advice of the court was being considered by the State government on the possibility of constituting a committee headed by a retired judge of the High Court.