Sand smuggling rampant on Penna Riverbed

Mydukur (Kadapa): Large-scale illegal sand mining was rampant on the Penna Riverbed. Hundreds of tractors were transporting illegally mined sand regularly. Law enforcing agencies were turning a blind eye to sand smuggling from Penna River near Munipaka in Khajipet mandal and Kundu River near Eturu village. As the sand quality available here is of higher quality it is transported to other districts. People were expressing concern over the rapidly depleting ground water levels due to the smuggling of sand from river beds. Hundreds of truck loads of sand are dumped at illegal transit points in Chemullapalle, Dumpalaguttu, Kothapet, Thavvaripalle and Kunavaripalle villages. Sand is transported to these places by tractors and from here it is transported in lorries to other districts. The demand for sand is picking up as it is being exported to Hyderabad, Prakasam and Kurnool districts. According to the information given by the sources the vehicles enter the Penna River through an agricultural field. The vehicle owners pay a sum of Rs 200 per vehicle to the owner of the field for allowing the vehicles through his field. Due to rampant sand smuggling large craters were formed in the river bed. It is also believed that bribes are paid to officials regularly. People were demanding the officials to curb the sand mining as it is posing a danger to environment and livelihoods of people.