Sand mafia linked to structural damage in more than 420 check dams in Telangana
Over 420 irrigation structures across Telangana have suffered damage in 18 months, with officials linking most breaches to rampant illegal sand mining. Satellite images show large-scale devastation as sand mafias sabotage dams, drain tanks and cause revenue loss, resource depletion and construction shortages
Hyderabad: In the last 18 months, more than 420 minor irrigation check dams and percolation tanks across the State have faced structural issues, a majority of them allegedly connected to sand extraction activity. The irrigation infrastructure in the erstwhile districts of Warangal, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Adilabad have borne the brunt of illegal sand mining with these structures being either breached deliberately or opened up, letting off the storage since mid-2024 to facilitate rampant sand extraction.
Official sources say satellite imagery and ground reports have revealed illegal sand mining on a massive scale. Before and after satellite montages comparing December 2023 with November 2025 show over 50 check dams transformed into deep sandy craters within just two years. However, these images have been kept confidential with officials admitting them but refusing to share with the media.
Irrigation department sources said at least 177 tanks and canal structures breached during the 2025 monsoon, many of them bearing clear signs of deliberate sabotage linked to the sand mafia. In one of the most brazen incidents, a major check dam at Tanugula village built across the Manair river was targeted by suspected sand mafia groups. It was suspected to have been blown up using explosives.
Nearly 90 metres of the structure collapsed, and officials suspected gelatin sticks were used for the purpose. Illegal sand mining is reportedly continuing unchecked in Rakonda Vagu, a water source connected to the Koil Sagar Dam in Mahabubnagar district. Local sources reveal that over 50 to 60 tippers of sand are being transported daily from this area to destinations in Narayanpet and Mahabubnagar districts.
The sand mafia, allegedly operating in collusion with different agencies, is openly excavating sand in broad daylight, with no effective measures in place to halt their activities. These illegal operations are not only depleting a critical natural resource, but also causing significant financial losses to the State exchequer.
A social activist from Mahabubabad, speaking on condition of anonymity, accused the sand mafia of operating ‘in broad daylight with the collusion of different agencies’.
“The government is losing hundreds of crores that could have funded schools and hospitals, while irreversible damage is being done to groundwater recharge structures,” he said.
Telangana consumes 170–175 lakh metric tonnes of sand annually, normally generating around huge revenue. Yet most government stockyards are empty, forcing transporters to source sand from Andhra Pradesh despite the longer distance and higher costs.
“Loading is faster in AP and the sand is readily available. Here we wait for weeks,” according to a lorry owner association member. The sand bazaars launched by the previous government to make land available at a regulated price are struggling today.
Buyers complain of inferior quality and irregular supply, pushing many back to private vendors or interstate sources. Construction industry representatives squarely blame the current Congress regime for the crisis.
“The previous BRS government used to repair access roads in summer and stockpile sand in advance. With the northeast monsoon extending longer than usual in 2025, riverbeds remained flooded beyond November. It exposed the lack of planning to meet the growing demand for quality sand,” they said.