Gravel mining in Kondagattu of West Godavari district has triggered serious political and environmental concerns. A hill area spread across nearly 185 acres, a series of No Objection Certificates (NOCs), excavation around farmers’ agricultural lands, concerns over borewells and irrigation, heavy machinery operating close to schools, and the alleged involvement of a local TDP leader have raised several questions.
Is a Gravel Mining Mafia Targeting Kondagattu?
Gravel excavation in the Kondagattu area of Chopparametla, under Tadepalli revenue limits of Agiripalli mandal, has become controversial.
According to local farmers, a hill spread across nearly 185 acres is located in Survey No. 174, covering parts of the Edulagudem–Kalatur villages.
Locals allege that heavy machinery is being used to excavate gravel from the hill. Farmers and villagers have reportedly raised objections and are seeking the intervention of the authorities.
Residents fear that continuous excavation could alter the natural shape of the hill and affect rainwater flow, groundwater recharge and irrigation resources in the surrounding agricultural areas.
185-Acre Hill: Who Were the NOCs Issued For?
One of the key questions surrounding the controversy concerns the NOCs reportedly issued in connection with the hill.
According to details mentioned in local documents and reports, NOCs have reportedly surfaced in the names of Podili Balaji, M/s Larsen & Toubro Limited, M/s GM Infra, E. Munilakshmi, P.V. Jaganmohan Rao, Paruchuri Srinivasa Rao, Madala Venkata Satyanarayana and others.
However, the exact nature of these NOCs, the extent of land covered, the purpose for which they were issued and whether they authorize gravel excavation require official clarification.
The crucial questions are:
Who received the NOCs relating to Survey No. 174? For how much land were they issued? For what purpose? And do they actually permit gravel excavation?
These are matters that the concerned authorities need to clarify through official records.
Excavation Around Farmers’ Lands: Who Owns the Land?
Several farmers reportedly have agricultural lands adjoining the hill.
According to details mentioned in the documents, Lealla Ravikumar reportedly owns 4 acres, Arepalli Dhanunjaya Rao 8.75 acres, Eede Pujeshwara Rao 8.50 acres, Pamarthi Ravi 2 acres, Jogi Prasad 2 acres, Arepalli Sivashankara Rao 2.20 acres, Arepalli Ramakrishna 2.50 acres, Bellamkonda Ravi 1.50 acres, Pamarthi Pullaiah 4 acres, Pamarthi Srimannarayana 2 acres, Arepalli Saoujanya 2.50 acres, Polagani Sriharirao 2.80 acres, Malleswara Rao 8 acres, Mullangi Siva 5 acres and Arepalli Giri 2.50 acres, reportedly held under B-Form pattas.
The alleged excavation around these agricultural lands has increased concerns among farmers.
Their key question is simple:
What happens if excavation eventually reaches the boundaries of their agricultural lands?
Farmers Raise Concerns Over Borewells
Farmers say the issue is not limited to the hill itself. They are also concerned about the impact on borewells in their agricultural fields.
They fear that large-scale removal of the hill could alter natural drainage patterns and affect groundwater recharge.
If borewells used for irrigation dry up, farmers could face serious agricultural losses.
The concern, therefore, extends beyond gravel extraction to the future of farming, groundwater and local livelihoods.
Heavy Excavation Near Schools?
Another major concern is the reported proximity of the excavation site to educational institutions.
Locals say KKR Gautam School and a Zilla Parishad High School are located near the hill area.
Heavy machinery, gravel transportation and the movement of large vehicles could potentially create dust, noise and traffic-related problems for students, they claim.
The authorities need to conduct a ground-level inspection to determine the exact distance between the excavation area and the schools and whether all applicable safety and environmental norms are being followed.
TDP Leader Reportedly Had a Dispute With Farmers
The controversy has also acquired a political dimension.
Local reports and documents have mentioned the name of Kollipara Sambasiva Rao, a TDP mandal general secretary, in connection with the land issue.
According to local accounts, he reportedly claimed rights over certain lands in the area, leading to an argument with farmers.
However, the actual ownership rights, sale documents, B-Form records and other revenue documents can only be established through an examination of official records.
This raises several questions:
Who owns the disputed lands? Whose names appear in the revenue records? How were the NOCs issued? And who granted permission for excavation?
A transparent verification of official documents is necessary to establish the facts.
Political Allegations Over the Kondagattu Excavation
The issue has now become a subject of political criticism as well.
Opposition voices are questioning whether natural resources are being exploited under the protection of political influence.
Critics have described the alleged activities using terms such as “Kootami Anacondas”, accusing the ruling coalition of targeting hills and natural resources.
However, these are political allegations and need to be distinguished from established facts. The ownership of the land, validity of the NOCs and legality of the excavation must be determined through official records and an independent inquiry.
Why the Rishikonda Comparison Is Being Raised
The Kondagattu controversy has also brought back comparisons with the earlier debate over Rishikonda in Visakhapatnam, where environmental protection and hill conservation became major political and public issues.
Critics are now asking why environmental concerns are being raised in some cases but allegedly receiving less attention when excavation of a hill is reported elsewhere.
The central issue remains whether the Kondagattu excavation complies with applicable mining, environmental and revenue regulations.
Is Natural Wealth Being Divided Up?
Political critics have intensified their rhetoric by comparing the alleged exploitation of Kondagattu to the division of a natural resource for private benefit.
Such political allegations, however, must be backed by evidence.
The important questions are:
How much revenue does the government receive from gravel excavation? What permissions were granted? What environmental safeguards were imposed? And has any damage been caused to agricultural lands or water resources?
Government revenue cannot come at the cost of farmers’ livelihoods or environmental protection.
Key Questions Over Survey No. 174
The concerns raised by farmers and local residents can be summarized through several key questions:
- What is the complete land status of the 185 acres in Survey No. 174?
- How much of the land is government-owned and how much is privately held?
- In whose names were the NOCs issued?
- What extent of land does each NOC cover?
- For what purpose were the NOCs granted?
- Are there valid permissions for gravel excavation?
- Has the Mining Department granted the necessary approvals?
- Are applicable environmental permissions in place?
- What are the permitted excavation boundaries?
- How much excavation has actually taken place?
- Has excavation extended into farmers’ patta lands?
- How far are the excavation sites from the nearby schools?
- Has the activity affected borewells, groundwater or agricultural lands?
These are not merely political questions. They concern land ownership, farmers’ livelihoods, groundwater, public safety and environmental protection.
Call for a Joint Inquiry by Revenue and Mining Authorities
Farmers are reportedly seeking a comprehensive field-level inquiry by the concerned departments.
Officials from the Revenue, Mining, Panchayat Raj and Environment departments should jointly inspect Survey No. 174 and establish the exact status of the land.
The authorities should verify:
- Land ownership and revenue records
- B-Form pattas
- NOCs
- Mining permissions
- Excavation limits
- Actual extent of excavation
- Distance from nearby schools
- Impact on borewells and agricultural lands
A GPS-based survey could also help establish whether excavation has crossed permitted boundaries or affected private agricultural lands.
Only such a transparent assessment can establish who is complying with the law and whether any violations have occurred.
Will the Hill Survive the Excavation?
Hills and natural resources do not belong to any political party. Their protection is a public responsibility.
If uncontrolled excavation affects groundwater, agricultural lands or local ecology, the consequences will ultimately be borne by farmers and residents.
The government therefore needs to make the facts surrounding Survey No. 174 public.
The authorities should clarify the NOCs, disclose the excavation permissions, verify land ownership and take action if any rules have been violated.
Until then, one question will continue to remain in the public domain:
Is Kondagattu being legally excavated for gravel, or are allegations of political protection behind the activity pointing toward a larger natural-resource controversy?
The answer must come through official records, a transparent investigation and facts—not political allegations alone.
