Telangana Court OKs Farmers to Remove Sand from Agricultural Lands
In a landmark decision, the Telangana High Court has granted permission to farmers in Mulugu district to remove flood-deposited sand from their agricultural lands. This ruling comes amid discussions on environmental conservation and economic needs, highlighting the ongoing dilemma between ecological preservation and land resource utilization.
Highlights
- •Telangana High Court permits removal of 66,000 cubic meters of sand by farmers
- •Court upholds earlier rulings that sand de-casting does not require commercial mining clearance
- •Final notification from the Union ministry is required before enforcing eco-sensitive zone restrictions
- •Ruling allows supervised removal to make agricultural lands cultivable
Hyderabad, India – In a significant ruling related to post-flood land management in the Mulugu district of Telangana, Justice G.M. Mohiuddin of the Telangana High Court permitted farmers to remove over 66,000 cubic meters of flood-deposited sand from their agricultural lands. The court's decision came as a response to a writ petition filed by Baddi Laxmaiah and other agriculturists who were barred from removing sand deposits.
Farmers' Legal Victory Amid Eco-Sensitive Debates
The petition challenged an order issued on May 22, 2025, by the forest divisional officer of Eturnagaram Wildlife Management Division. This order had restricted sand de-casting operations in the vicinity of protected wildlife areas, impacting the farmers' ability to reclaim their lands for agriculture.
According to Mohiuddin, the court held that the proposed eco-sensitive zone notification cannot be enforced without a final and official notification from the Union ministry. Additionally, he observed that earlier decisions of the High Court had already concluded that sand de-casting by farmers does not constitute commercial mining.
Judging the petition on its merits, Justice Mohiuddin allowed the removal of sand under strict supervision by the Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation Limited. He adjourned the matter for further hearing to ensure comprehensive compliance with regulatory requirements.
