The boats that were seized during a raid at the Road-cum-Rail bridge in Rajamahendravaram on Monday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM
The Water Resource Department of Andhra Pradesh seized 18 boats on December 9 (Monday) when the workers allegedly hired by the boat owners were illegally excavating sand adjacent to four bridges across the Godavari river between Rajamahendravaram city and Kovvur town in East Godavari district.
In Rajamahendravaram, sand excavation is manually done by the migrants hired by the local boat owners.
The officials swung into action in the wake of a threat to the structural stability of the four bridges—Road-cum-Railway bridge, Havelock Bridge, Railway Bridge and Gammon Bridge—which all connect Rajamahendravaram with Kovvur town.
The boats were seized during a raid led by East Godavari Joint Collector S. Chinna Ramudu. The officials from the Dowleswaram Irrigation Circle, Mines and Geology Department were part of the raiding team.
The officials seized eight boats at Dhobhi ghat and ten more at the Elinamma ghat on the Kovvur front while the workers were engaged in the illegal excavation of sand adjacent to the bridges.
“We have seized 18 boats to ensure that there will be no threat to the four bridges. Collection and excavation of sand between the Gammon and Road-cum-rail bridges is prohibited to conserve the four bridges,” said Mr. Chinna Ramudu.
The officials have recommended to register criminal cases against the boat operators. Mines and Geology Department Assistant Director D. Fanibhushan Reddy and Divisional Engineer K. Anand Babu are investigating the details of the boat owners and licences issued to collect sand from the river.
Published – December 10, 2024 06:00 am IST