HYDERABAD: Minister for mines and geology T Harish Rao informed the state Assembly on Tuesday that the government was taking steps to prevent depletion of ground water due to illegal sand mining in the Godavari, Manjeera and Maneru catchment areas through strict vigilance. Replying to a question, he said illegal quarrying of sand was noticed in Nizamabad and Khammam districts where permissions have been accorded for decasting of sand in patta lands. Harish Rao said no sand quarries were sanctioned but 35 reaches were identified in Karimnagar, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Khammam and Warangal districts for extraction.
IRRIGATION PROJECTS: Minister for irrigation T Harish Rao informed the Assembly that the chief ministers of Telangana and Maharashtra had agrred to complete inter-state irrigation projects such as Pranahita-Chevella, Ichampally, Lendi, Lower Penganga without delay.