Manthani open cast mine turns into a health hazard
Open cast mining by the Singareni Collieries Company Limited has taken a heavy toll of the environs around Nagaram village in Manthani mandal of Peddapalli district, which was once full of greenery and dense forests, while the SRSP canal flowed through it providing water for both drinking and irrigation needs.
Large-scale mining has been going on since 2017 in the area officially known as RG-III, OCP-II near Centenary colony in Godavarikhani region of Peddapalli district. The Pollution Control Board also issued its Consent for Operation to SCCL.
But excessive blasting that is going on in the name of mining is beyond the limits prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986. As a result, the entire region is polluted with dust and smoke owing to heavy blasting, mining and transportation of coal.
Budidha Mallesh, sarpanch of Nagaram village of Manthani mandal, charged that air, water and ground in the region have been saturated with pollution due to open cast mining by the SCCL.
“As the village is very close to the mining site, I am witness to people in the area suffering from various health complications like diarrhoea, skin allergy, and joint pains. Some have even lost their hearing ability due to sound pollution,” he stated
The entire region is being fully exploited, posing a severe threat to biodiversity.
Many animal species have become extinct, while some of them have migrated to other regions, Mallesh added.
The sarpanch pointed out that he had given a written complaint to PCB regional manager Ravidas against SCCL for violation of the environment and biodiversity rules. But no action has been taken against the colliery management.
Neither have ameliorative measures been taken, he complained.
When contacted, Pollution Control Board authorities pointed out that they had inspected the Nagaram region and directed SCCL authorities to submit within seven days a report of meeting the various conditions while undertaking mining. Otherwise, action would be taken against Singareni under relevant provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 in the interest of public health and environment.
■ THE ENTIRE region is being fully exploited, posing a severe threat to biodiversity. Many animal species are reportedly have become extinct, while some of them have migrated to other regions