Khammam: The state government has decided to implement stringent laws to check sand smuggling in Khammam district.
Officials have decided to file cases under the SC, ST Atrocities Act against those involved in illegal sand mining.
According to sources, the Telangana government had sanctioned 18 quarries on river Godavari to tribal SHGs. These groups used to mine and supply the sand to customers in Hyderabad.
But some persons having patta lands have claimed that sand deposited on their lands during floods and sought permission to mine and sell it.
The government had issued licences to some of those in possession of patta lands to mine sand in their lands which led to the real trouble of illegal mining.
The sand mafia entered into the scene and took the patta lands on lease. Apart from mining in these lands, the mafia took up mining in the river bed too and began making money.
An official said, “The modus operandi is to obtain permit for just one lorry and supply trucks and trucks of sand on the same permit.”
Sand smugglers pay a large amount, as much as Rs 1 to Rs 2 crore per month in kickbacks to officials.
"Some top police officers also take kickbacks from these sand miners," he alleged. It is learnt that even revenue officials take money from the smugglers and turn a blind eye to the illegal activity.
Meanwhile, ITDA project officer Divya asked officials to file cases against illegal sand miners under the SC and ST Atrocities Act.
"The right to mine sand from the River Godavari has been given only to the Adivasi SHGs," she said.
