Extensive stretches of beach from Srikakulam to Nellore district had been awarded to the private companies on nomination basis.

Visakhapatnam March 8 The Forum for Better Visakha (FBV) in a letter to the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has urged him to reconsider the decision of the State Government to award beach sand mining leases to several companies, as the move is likely to lead to ecological degradation and also adversely affect the livelihood of fishermen.

Mr E.A.S. Sarma, forum co-ordinator and former Union Energy Secretary, said in countries like Indonesia beach sand mining affected the coastal habitats and the fishermen.

Grave Threat

He said that mining of one unit of mineral would require digging up of at least 15 units of sand and after extraction of the mineral the contaminated sand would be dumped on the beaches.

This would pose grave threat to the marine species and endanger the coastal ecological system.

`UNDUE HURRY'

He said the State Government had signed memoranda of understanding with several companies in haste, without considering the implications of beach sand mining.

Extensive stretches of beach from Srikakulam to Nellore district had been awarded to the private companies on nomination basis, which was also not proper. He expressed surprise at the alacrity of the State Government in awarding such leases.

`FISHERMEN IN LURCH'

He complained that without waiting for requisite ecological clearances and without complying with other statutory stipulations, companies had already started taking up samples from the beaches.

The activity would primarily affect the fishermen and their opinion was completely ignored in the matter, he alleged. Mr Sarma urged the State Government to reconsider the decision.