Ranga Reddy district is facing a crisis of epic proportions as quarrying continues unchecked, flouting regulations and exploiting public resources for private gain. Illegal quarrying operations, proliferating unchecked, are not only causing loss to government’s exchequer of crores of rupees. It is also wreaking havoc on the environment and local communities.
The scale of the problem is staggering with illegal quarrying outnumbering the one authorized by the government. Ibrahimpatnam, Shadnagar, Rajendranagar, Chevella, and Maheshwaram constituencies are among the hardest-hit areas, where the illicit acquisition of land adjacent to permitted zones facilitates unauthorised excavation with impunity.
Compounding the issue is the apparent nexus between local political figures and enforcement agencies, hampering any meaningful efforts to enforce law. Despite repeated complaints from affected locals, including farmers and villagers, concerns over pollution, noise pollution, and encroachment on agricultural land continue to be disregarded.
The uncontrolled proliferation of crushers, both legal and illegal, is wreaking havoc on villages with pollution levels skyrocketing and health risks multiplying. The noise and air pollution from quarry blasting are not only impacting residents but also jeopardising agricultural productivity. Reports of diminished crop yields, scarcity of livestock fodder, and a surge in respiratory ailments due to crusher dust exposure are on the rise.
Furthermore, the transportation of quarry materials exacerbates the situation, with overloaded vehicles damaging roads and posing a constant safety threat.
Despite regulatory mandates, authorities responsible for monitoring vehicle weights and speeds are accused of negligence, compounding the villagers’ woes.
Another pressing concern is the depletion of groundwater, exacerbated by the failure of quarry owners to rehabilitate mined areas properly. Instead of backfilling pits as required, owners abandon quarries, disrupting local hydrology and exacerbating water scarcity in villages like Lakudaram.
In response to these dire circumstances, urgent action is imperative.
Authorities must take decisive measures to rein in the quarry mafia, rigorously enforce regulations, and safeguard the interests of local communities.
Failure to act swiftly could have devastating consequences for both the environment and the well-being of residents across Ranga Reddy district.
