Section 23 in Andhra Pradesh Water, Land And Trees Rules, 2004
23. Sand mining.
(1)In areas where sand mining is affecting groundwater regime, such of the areas shall be notified and transportation of sand shall be prohibited and mining and transportation of sand shall be banned in notified over exploited ground water micro basins/mandals and for other areas the following conditions shall apply for exploitation of sand.(1)(a)Sand mining shall not be permitted in notified areas except for local use in the Villages or towns bordering the streams. Transportation of sand from these notified areas through mechanical means out of the local jurisdiction shall be banned.(b)In IVth orders, stream, sand mining shall be restricted to specified areas.(c)In Vth order and above rivers, Viz: Godavari, Krishna, Pennar etc. Sand mining may be permitted without affecting the existing sources for Irrigation for drinking water or industrial purpose.(2)The sand leaseholders shall not carry out quarrying within 500 m. of any existing structure such as bridges, dams, weirs or any other cross drainage structure.(3)Vehicles carrying sand shall not ply over the flood banks except at crossing points or bridges or on a metal road(4)Permission to quarry sand shall not be granted within 500 Meters of any groundwater extraction structure(s) either for irrigation or drinking water purposes.(5)The streams/rivers where the thickness of sand is quite good (more than 8.00 Meters) the depth of removal may be extended to 2.00 Meters but in to case beyond two meters.(6)Sand quarrying shall not be permitted within 15 meters or 1/5 of the width of the stream bed from the bank whichever is more.(7)Sand mining shall not be permitted in streams where the thickness of sand deposition is less than 2.00 meters.(8)The depth of removal of sand shall be restricted to one meter particularly in minor streams where the thickness is more than 3.00 meters and less than 8.00 meters.(9)The sand quarrying shall be restricted to depths above the water table recorded during monsoon and in no case effect/disturb the water table.(10)The quantity of sand deposited annually in every stream or river shall be monitored by establishing observation stations along the stream course.
