Illegal soil mafia activities are taking place in the tanks located in the Manthani and Ramagundam constituencies of Peddapalli district. The owners of brick kilns who have obtained these tanks through political favors are extracting soil beyond the permitted limits, depleting the ponds and tanks. Allegations have surfaced that officials are turning a blind eye to these activities, with police reportedly accepting bribes. The clay is being transported directly from the ponds to the brick kilns without proper way bills.
During the summer season, black soil needed for brick making is being transported from the ponds with the help of political parties and those in power. This illegal activity is causing a significant loss in government revenue as rules are being disregarded on a large scale. Peddapalli, Rangampalli, Raghavapur, Ramagiri, Ramagundam, Kamanpur, Sultanabad, Dharmaram, and Katnapalli are home to over 150 brick kilns supplying bricks to places like Hyderabad, Warangal, and Mancherial.
Some brick kiln owners are making substantial profits by purchasing clay at low prices and selling it to others at higher rates. Despite permissions being obtained for soil excavation in certain ponds, trucks are found to be moving soil illegally during the night without proper documentation. Complaints from villagers about these activities have not resulted in any action being taken by authorities.
The situation worsened when the Sripada Yellampalli project dried up a pond, attracting illegal activities. Heavy excavators and numerous lorries have been spotted dumping soil from the pond at a government site nearby. To evade detection, tractors with blades are used to cover up the extent of soil being excavated. Fight for Better Society president Maddela Dinesh has called for a thorough investigation by the Collector to address these issues.
