- (1.) On the basis of a letter sent to the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, a petition in the nature of public interest litigation was entertained to direct the respondents to take action against the illegal blasting and crushing of granite for concrete metal in the areas of the Goldodi, Nanakramguda, hills of Khanapur and Kokapet in Rangareddy District as a result of which a lot of fine granite silica dust is entering into the atmosphere which causes a disease called 'Silicosis' to the residents nearby. Two writ petitions were filed by the appellants in Civil Appeals Nos. 1907-1908/2000 calling for records of proceedings before the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Hyderabad in respect of grant of lease over an extent of 5 acres in survey No. 239 of Kokapet village, Rangareddy District, for quashing the same and for granting appropriate consequential reliefs. Similarly, certain other persons also filed writ petitions challenging the action of the Government in stopping the mining operations in different areas of Kokapet village.
(2.) The High Court called for a report from the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology. The said Report revealed that there are four quarry leases and three stone crushers in Kokapet village, Rajendranagar Mandal; that the quarries and crushers are at a distance of 2 kms. to the South of Kokapet village and 20 kms. from Hyderabad; that the ground level water reservoir of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage Board is located at a distance of 1 km. From the stone quarry, which supplies water to the city of Hyderabad; that the Osmansagar lake is also located at about 3 kms. South West of these quarries and crushers. After receipt of the Report of the Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, the High Court impleaded 17 stone industries and also directed issue of notice to the Government of Andhra Pradesh to appoint a Committee of Experts to examine whether quarrying, crushing and blasting activities close to Osmansagar lake and the ground level water reservoir of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage Board are endangered by such operations and submit a report of the said Committee to the High Court.
(3.) A Committee, consisting of Shri T. Chatterjee, Member Secretary, A. P. Pollution Control Board, Shri K. P. Chandra-sekhar Rao, Director (Technical), Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage Board, Shri K. V. Rao, Shri T. V. Chowdary, Director of Mines and Geology, Hyderabad and Shri P. Babu Rao, Director, Ground Water Department, submitted its report on 4 - 8 -1997. Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee are as under :- "(1) As a result of blasting in the quarries, within a radius of 1 km. The shock waves which are generated, pass through the joints especially the horizontal joints and create vibrations in the nearby areas. The reservoir which is close by is also within the range of its impact. Higher than present intensities of blasting will definitely cause damage to the reservoir structure. Thus, blasting and quarrying within a range of 1 km., already prohibited, must not be permitted. (2) To prevent unauthorised quarrying, it is suggested that the approach road must be closed after the gateway of the GLSR and all activities of unauthorised quarrying must be stopped forthwith. Security staff can be contracted for the purpose by the GLSR authorities. (3) The authorised quarry and crusher company will lose approach and can be permitted to build another approach to their facilities from the Eastern side. (4) The quarries on the northern flanks of the hill range at a distance of 1 km. from the reservoir will not have any impact on the reservoir as the joint patterns/systems in the areas. The GLSR is on one side of the dispersion point, the authorised quarries are on the other side of it. However, as a precautionary measure, the intensity of blasting must be kept at the minimum by fixing the limit of number holes, depth of hole and quantity of explosive per blasting. (5) There is no impact on Osmansagar lake due to blasting beyond 1 km. radius.";