YSRCP to raise Panchadarla mining issue in Parliament

The YSR Congress Party has warned it will raise the issue of illegal mining at Panchadarla in Anakapalli district in Parliament if the government does not issue a permanent order declaring the sacred hill a No-Mining Zone. Party leaders met Union Ministers, demanded a CBI probe into Anakapalli MP C.M. Ramesh, and highlighted environmental damage caused by excessive gravel extraction.

Amaravati:  The YSR Congress Party will raise the issue of illegal mining at Panchadarla in Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh in Parliament if the government fails to issue a permanent Government Order declaring the sacred hill a No-Mining Zone, its leaders said on Wednesday.

Rajya Sabha MP Golla Baburao, Araku MP Gumma Thanuja Rani, former minister Gudivada Amarnath, former MLA Karanam Dharmasri and YSRCP Anakapalli district president Boddeti Prasad met Union Ministers here and submitted complaints on the mining issue.

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Later, addressing the media, Golla Baburao said leaders of the coalition government in the state were exploiting natural resources and destroying hills and temple surroundings across the erstwhile Visakhapatnam district. He said YSRCP would take the issue to the national level and raise the issue of illegal mining in Parliament until Panchadarla receives permanent protection.

Thanuja Rani said Union Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were briefed on the situation, and they had assured that a Central team would examine the mining activity and action would be initiated based on its report within 10 days.

She said official inquiries had found that mining and blasting vibrations were affecting the sacred water streams and that nearly two lakh tonnes of gravel had been extracted beyond the approved mining plan.

Gudivada Amarnath demanded a CBI inquiry into the role of Anakapalli MP C.M. Ramesh, stating that responsibility could not end with the suspension of lower-level officials. He said penalties of nearly Rs 250 crore were due under the rules for the illegal excavation and demanded Ramesh’s resignation and a comprehensive probe.

Karanam Dharmasri warned the agitation would continue until a permanent No-Mining Zone GO was issued, while Boddeti Prasad said the movement that began in Panchadarla had now reached Delhi and would intensify until action was taken against those responsible.