Deputy CM orders probe into ‘illegal mining’ on Panchadarla hill
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has ordered an investigation into alleged environmental violations caused by gravel mining at Panchadarla hill. The government is considering declaring the area a 'no mining zone' to protect the local ecosystem and the historic Sri Uma Dharmalingeswara Swamy Temple.
Why it matters
This intervention highlights the growing tension between industrial development and the preservation of ecologically sensitive heritage sites in India, emphasizing the government's role in enforcing environmental compliance.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Forests, K. Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the alleged environmental violations in the gravel excavation being carried out at Panchadarla hill in Anakapalli district.
In a release, Mr. Kalyan directed the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to conduct a detailed investigation and submit a report on the violations. He also instructed the Revenue and Mines Departments to examine the proposal for declaring the Panchadarla hill surroundings as 'no mining zone’. He also ordered for immediate cancellation of the licenses of the mining permissions.
The Deputy CM reviewed the issue with the Anakapalli District Collector and officials of the PCB after reports surfaced alleging illegal mining at Panchadarla. After reviewing the Collector's report, he issued a series of directives aimed at protecting the ecologically and culturally significant hill.
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