Counter affidavit on illegal sand mining in Yanam region, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, 15/12/2021
Counter Affidavit filed by the Deputy Collector-cum-Sub Divisional Magistrate of Yanam in OA No 184 of 2017 (SZ) in the matter of Sri Sankara Swamy Naidu Welfare Organisation Vs Union of India, Through its secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi and Ors, dated December 15, 2021.
The matter related to illegal sand mining in Yanam region, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. The fishermen community of Yanam region who venture into sea traditionally de-silt the estuary at Coringa river and Gowthami Godavari river for easy navigation of boats for fishing. Such silts are purchased by the local people for filling up their construction sites as well as low lying area. But, after the government of Andhra Pradesh's new sand mining policy in 2016, the desilting activities are stopped and no permission is being granted to de-silt the sand from the river, the affidavit made available online on the NGT site, December 20, 2021 said.