Illegal sand mining going on unabated

​Nizamabad: Sand quarrying is going on unabated illegally in the district. The sand mafia is making the State treasury to incur losses to the tune of crores of Rupees while the Department of Mining is turning a blind eye to the entire episode.

It is alleged that members of the sand mafia are carrying out sand quarrying by greasing the palms of the Revenue Department officials. They were violating the guidelines with impunity.

Those who should be maintaining a strict vigil are remaining totally indifferent after receiving bribes.

Trucks loads of sand were being transported illegally to other districts and States.
For instance, in the village Banda Ranjil of Bichkunda mandal, sand is being transported in lorries to Hyderabad in violation of rules and regulations, thus making crores of Rupees.

According to rules, digging should not go beyond two meters deep for sand as the mineral resources would be depleted but his rule was being thrown to the winds.

However, this was being done right under the nose of the TNMDC officials. It was alleged that in each lorry, four extra tonnes of sand was being transported and the revenue officials were not imposing penalties.

Sand was being smuggled in 200 additional lorries and earning Rs 5,000 extra on each lorry. In the Banda Ranjil village, permission was granted to transport 19,500 cubic metres of sand.

Speaking to the Hans India here on Friday, the villagers expressed the hope that the State government would take steps to put an end to the illegal sand mining that was being carried out.

By: Panchareddy Srikanth