The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Kurnool News : Restrictions sought on sand extraction

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 26, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool

Restrictions sought on sand extraction

Staff Reporter

KURNOOL: The general body of the Zilla Parishad on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the Government to restrict the extraction of sand from the Tungabhadra riverbed. The Kurnool MLA, M.A. Gafoor initiated a heated debate on sand extraction, seeking an immediate ban on export of sand to other districts, to protect the river. He said the Government might receive an income of Rs. 1.5 crores from sand auction but it would cause damage of Rs. 10 crores to the road network besides causing serious drinking water problems in the villages along the river course. The riverbed would lose its water retention capacity if sand was extracted indiscriminately. He said the ban should not cause any inconvenience to local construction as the locals depended on the Tungabhadra for sand.

The explanation by the Minister for Lift Irrigation, M. Mareppa and the DPO, Sobhaswarooparani, that a committee was reviewing the situation, provoked Mr. Gafoor to say that there was no need for any investigation now as several panels presented detailed reports in the past indicating the places suitable for sand extraction.

The Collector, Vikas Raj, said partial ban was difficult to enforce. The members wanted check post at Tungabhadra river to stop export of sand. The MLA, Katasani Rambhupal Reddy, also highlighted the commercialisation of sand extraction near Cherukulapadu and asked the officials to examine it.

The meeting was chaired by the Chairman, B. Venkatramudu. The MLA, Sikhamani, and others attended.

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