Sand mining rampant in sea coast

Srikakulam: Illegal sand mining is rampant along the coast of Bay of Bengal in Srikakulam district. The members of sand mafia excavating beach sand illegally and mix it with sand of rivers and rivulets and sold it to builders and contractors of Visakhapatnam and other areas.

Normally, beach sand will not be suggested for construction works as it is not strong due to its salty nature. As per environmental conservation norms, beach sand mining is illegal and against rules.

But with support of ruling TDP leaders, sand miners are violating all rules at coastal villages in Ranastalam, Etcherla, Srikakulam rural, Gara, Polaki, Santhabommali and other mandals.

Mainly in Ranastalam mandal, sand mafia members are keeping sand heaps in gardens and open places after it is excavated from local rivulets and later it is mixed with beach sand and selling it to builders and contractors.

Tractor owners of Naruva, Mentada, Donipeta, Akkayyapalem, Saragapeta, Kunduvanipeta, D Matsyalesam, Budagatlapalem, K Matsyalesam and other sea coast villages are rampantly excavating the sand from sea shore illegally.
Pydibhimavaram industrial area is became a centre for sea sand storage and its shifting to other areas. Mines and geology department, police and revenue officials are aware over illegal sand mining and its mixing with river sand and its transportation to other areas.

But they are maintaining silence as they are being bribed by sand miners and also yielded to political pressure.

“We are going to deploy separate teams to prevent beach sand mining,” said Srikakulam revenue divisional officer (RDO) N V Ramana and assistant director for mines and geology, Randhi Thammi Naidu to The Hans India.