VIJAYAWADA | Jul 22, 2015: It is common knowledge that illegal mining results in revenue loss to the exchequer but not many are aware of its impact on the environment. The situation in Musunuru mandal is a matter of grave concern as the ground water levels has plunged by three metres since June 2014.

The data available with the district groundwater department shows that the water table in Surepalli and Velpucherla too depleted by 3 and 2.8 metres respectively from last year. Hydrological experts have sounded a note of caution with Musunuru already being declared as an over exploited region in the district.

In Surepalli village, the groundwater level was 53.3 metres in June 2014. It went down to 56.3 metres just 12 months later. Similarly, the level fell from 26.8 to 29.6 metres in Velpucherla during the same period. While experts aver that exploitation has been gradually happening over the course of time, unchecked sand quarrying is only adding to it. Everyone is well aware of the fact that the district collector has issued an order, notifying that mining is not allowed in the mandal. However, recent incidents show that people are still removing sand from reaches there.

The disadvantages of mining sand in over exploited regions are multifold. From forcing the river to change its course to adversely impacting the groundwater levels, the ramifications of illegal sand trade are many. "Sand is important for groundwater recharge and it is the link between the water available in the nearby water source and the groundwater. When one removes the sand, the base flow of water decreases drastically. This leads to deterioration of retaining capacity," a senior official from the groundwater department told ToI.

He pointed out that illegal sand mining has impacted the wells in Musunuru mandal. "All the water sources will be affected and they will be subjected to degradation and coarsening of aquifier," the official said.

The Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA) makes it clear that sand mining is not permitted in over exploited areas except for local use. Despite this, the sand mafia is active in Tammileru region. And Surepalli and Velpucherla villages fall under Tammileru II and III water basins. The WALTA-2002 states that the enforcement against illegal mining is under the jurisdiction of the tahsildar and groundwater department. The problem is that when the tahsildar of Musunuru tried to keep a check on the issue, things went out of hand.

The official with district groundwater department warned that indiscriminate sand mining would lead to further depletion of groundwater resources. "The situation is very precarious as the farmers keep drawing the water for agriculture activities and on the other hand the sand mafia continues to dredge. Already the region is over exploited and the monsoon is weak. If the mining undergoes unabated, the situation will only worsen," he concluded.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)