MoEF clears mining in 36 new sand reaches in Andhra

The State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has granted permission for mining in 36 new sand reaches in Andhra Pradesh. These sand reaches fall in the rivers Krishna, Godavari, Pennar and Vamsadhara in seven districts.

The environmental clearance, granted on May 31, comes two months after the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s stay on sand mining and auction of sand reaches in the state with effect from April 1. The state government approached the ministry for clearance after the Supreme Court rejected its special leave petition to get the high court stay vacated. The apex court had directed the state government to get the mandatory clearance from the ministry.