Illegal Mining Controversy Grips Andhra Pradesh's Sacred Panchadarla Hills

NEW DELHI: After Tirupati laddoo controversy, the sacred Panchadarla hills and temple in Andhra Pradesh are in the eye of a political storm over illegal mining which has allegedly altered the colour of water of springs.

The Panchadarla hills in Anakapalli district near Visakhapatnam, home to the ancient Sri Uma Dharmalingeswara Swamy temple and its famous natural springs, have emerged as the new flashpoint following widespread illegal gravel mining. Sitting BJP MP from Anakapalli C M Ramesh has been drawn into this controversy as the Opposition YSRCP has alleged that the mining operator is a close aide. Though Ramesh has denied the charge, the Opposition id demanding the hills be declared a no-mining zone.

The operator, Vijay Kumar Naidu Dasamnani, had been given the lease for gravel mining over 2 hectares of land in Rambili mandal. The state government’s mines and geology department received several complaints that the operator had encroached on government land and mined it for gravel. Following this, the department conducted on-site surveys and found gross violations of mining lease conditions.

As per inspection report, a copy of which was reviewed by ET, about 1,39,622 metric tonnes of excess gravel had been mined. “Further, it has been established that the total quantity excavated within the sanctioned lease area was L,67,280.793 Metric Tonnes, whereas dispatch permits were obtained only for 1,04,000 Metric Tonnes. Thus, you have excavated 63,280.793 metric tonnes of gravel in excess of quantity covered under valid dispatch permits and beyond the approved annual production programme without prior permission from the competent authority…” the inspection report says.

The department has issued a showcause notice to the operator asking for a reply within a fortnight and stopped all mining operations. However, this has given Opposition YSRCP a potent issue to corner the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh. Former minister and YSRCP leader Gudivada Amarnath said, “Not even a handful of soil should be removed from the sacred surroundings of the Uma Dharmalingeswara Swamy Temple.

The people of Anakapalli gave CM Ramesh an unprecedented electoral mandate, but that mandate was not a blank cheque to exploit the natural resources of the region.” When contacted Ramesh denied the operator was his aide. “He is a BJP functionary but he is not my personal assistant. He was awarded the mining lease after due diligence and there is no wrong doing in this award. After local complaints the government has already taken action. There is nothing much for me to say. YSRCP is unnecessarily making this an issue,” said Ramesh.

YSRCP has alleged that due to illegal mining the sacred springs which supplied water to the temple have become muddy. “For centuries, clear sacred water flowed through the Panchadarla springs. Today, muddy water is flowing… Despite protests, hunger strikes and temporary directions to stop the work, hundreds of trucks continued transporting mined material. This reflects an attitude that those involved fear neither the people nor God. Unless the Government issues a formal No-Mining Zone order, the struggle will become more intense,” said Amarnath.

YSRCP has demanded immediate stoppage of all mining and drilling activities at Panchadarla hills, cancellation of existing mining permissions, removal of all machinery and vehicles, a comprehensive and independent investigation; criminal cases against the operator and restoration and scientific examination of the natural springs. Ramesh, however, denied that the springs had been affected.