Andhra Pradesh High Court Directs Chittor District Collector To Ensure No Illegal Sand Mining & Extraction Is Permitted At Neeva River Bed

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the District Collector Chittoor to ensure that no illegal sand mining and extraction is permitted at the bed of the river Neeva and to file a status report with regard to the action taken to prevent such illegal activities. It said:

“In the meantime, respondent No.7 – The District Collector, Chittoor District, is directed to ensure that no illegal sand mining is permitted in the absence of any permission/license granted to the concerned. A status report be also filed with regard to the action taken”

The order was passed by the division bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R. Raghunandan Rao in a plea by the Sarpanch of Ananthapuram Panchayat, Chittoor District praying that the official authorities be directed to take stringent actions against the Jaiprakash Power Venture Limited and the Prathima Infrastructure Limited for allegedly conducting mining and extraction of sand without proper permissions or license.

The petitioner contended that the above-mentioned illegal activities were being carried out over an extent of 120 acres and sand was being carried away in lorries, tractors, and tippers.

It was prayed that the official respondents conduct regular inspections to curb the illegal mining activities and further prayed that the Corporations be directed to pay monitory compensation for the damage caused to the river and the river water as per the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

As an interim relief, the Sarpanch sought for all mining activities to be stopped on the 120 acres till the disposal of the plea.

The Court has issued notices and directed the respondents to file objections on the next date of hearing, i.e., 13.03.24

WP(PIL) 37 of 2024

Counsel for petitioner: Srinivasa Rao Narra

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