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Locals resist mining at Kanchili
Locals opposed mining on the hills located at border areas of Kanchili and Sompeta mandals Over 16 villages are located around the hills
Srikakulam: Locals opposed mining on the hills located at border areas of Kanchili and Sompeta mandals. Over 16 villages are located around the hills. NTR Sujala, a drinking water scheme, located at Oriyanarayanapuram in Kanchili mandal below one kilo meter distance from the hills. The scheme is aimed to provide safe drinking water to residents of 19 villages in Kanchili and 10 villages in Kaviti mandal.
In all the villages kidney disease is rampantly spread and to prevent it, the government started the water supply scheme here. The main sources of water to the scheme are borewells which are located around the hills where small water bodies are witnessing and previously district water resources management agency (DWMA) also dug some tanks in between the hills to store water which is flowing from hills during rainy season.
With the storage of water in the tanks, ground water levels are good in the locality. But due to mining on the hills for red and black stones, these water bodies will be destroyed and it will pose a threat to water scheme. “Mining activities permitted by revenue and mines and geology department officials near the water bodies without getting permission from the grama panchayats which will be affected in future,” said P Dullabha and P Mahesh, residents in the village.
“As per the Supreme Court verdict, no mining activity will be allowed near the water bodies. But here officials violated it completely,” said Human Rights Forum (HRF) AP and Telangana States coordination committee convener V S Krishna. “State government is not committed to prevent kidney diseases in Uddanam and how its officials allowed mining near the water scheme meant for supply of safe water to kidney patients area,” HRF State vice-president KV Jagannadha Rao said.
Former energy secretary, EAS Sharma also sent a detailed plea to mines department by mentioning violations of departments. “We will verify all records on it clearly and take an appropriate decision on mining permits sanctioned to firms,” said extension officer for panchayat raj and rural development (EO PR and RD) S Vasantha Kumari.
