Sand is smuggled in hundreds of trucks every day

KARIMNAGAR: Following raids on sand quarries in Khajeepur in Karimnagara district by Vigilance & Enforcement (V&E) authorities, the sand mafia's trucks have disappeared from the roads of this district.  On Wednesday, police and mines department officials searched for the mafia members based on the registration numbers of the tractors they seized in Tuesday's raids. Every day, about 100-150 trucks transport illegally mined sand to Hyderabad. An equal number go to other parts of the district. As per norms, contractors can mine sand only after obtaining permits from the district administration. As the leases expired a year ago, officials called for fresh tenders but were stymied by contractors' litigation.A few temporary permissions were sanctioned to supply sand to government buildings like social welfare hostels, schools and Indiramma houses. However, sand miners are using these permits to divert sand to private parties.The sand quarries that have been given permission are at Potyala in Ramagundam mandal and Mattaraopet in Velgatoor mandal. But illegal mining is rampant at several other places like Khajeepur in Karimangar mandal, Nustulapur in Timmapur mandal, Naryanpur rivulet in Sultanabad, and Khadikatkur near the Sabaspalli rivulet and the Manwada rivulet in Boinpalli mandal. The quarrying takes place at night. The possibility of detection by officials does not deter the contractors. They attacked revenue staff at Pashigam of Dharmapuri mandal recently when the latter turned up at the wrong time.The sand mafia violates the Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA) by excavating sand at 5-6 m depth against the stipulated 2 m. They use earth movers (JCBs) for speedy excavation, which is against the law.Karimnagar joint collector H Arun Kumar told Express that the district administration has currently cancelled all permits, including the temporary permits. “Hereafter, movement of any sand-laden truck or tractor in the district will be treated as illegal and the vehicles will be seized,'' he said.Meanwhile, proposals have been sent to the state government to conduct auctions for eight sand reaches.