The district administration has decided to open new sand ramps, despite strong opposition from the locals who fear that frequent movement of heavy vehicles transporting sand in their vicinity make the areas more prone to accidents.
According to sources, the District Rural Development Agency have generated Rs. 60 crore by selling 11 lakh cubic metres of sand in the last six months. With the huge demand for the sand mined from Srikakulam reaches, in Visakhapatnam owing to its quality, the district administration has decided to open more reaches for mining. The government has already permitted sand mining at 34 ramps of which 21 have already become functional. Meanwhile, the District Rural Development Agency has identified nine new places for sand mining activity in Palakonda, Veeraghattam, Narasannapeta and other mandals.
DRDA officials recently inspected Korada village of Hira mandal to access the feasibility of mining sand from the Vamsadhara riverbed there.
Meanwhile, the decision of opening new sand ramp has drawn flak from the residents of the area nearby the proposed sites. Recently, residents of Chalivendra, Veeraghattam mandal raised their voice, demanding closure of the ramp on Nagavali riverbed near their villages. AP Rythu Kuli Sangham District Secretary P. Bhaskara Rao said that heavy excavation of sand from riverbeds would make many nearby villages vulnerable to floods during rainy season.
As many as three bullocks were killed with the sudden flow of water in Nagavali river recently, leading to sinking of the cart at Alipiri vilalge of Palakonda mandal, he pointed out. With this stiff resistance, the government has closed the ramp near Hayatnagar located on the outskirts of Srikakulam.
But, the officials say that they have no other choice other than opening of new ramps owing to the pressure from the government to generate additional revenue. “We have no other option except to open new ramps,” said a senior DRDA official.
Despite stiff opposition, the decision was taken to generate additional revenue, say officials
The DRDA has netted Rs. 60 cr. by selling 11 lakh cubic metre of sand in the last six months
