Hanumakonda, Oct.11 : Praja Vedika State Chairman Dr. Tirunahari Seshu has demanded that the Telangana government and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) immediately withdraw the proposed Venkatapur opencast coal mining project. He warned that the open-pit coal mine poses a severe threat to local forests, the environment, historical monuments, architectural treasures, and agriculture.
Dr. Seshu highlighted that granting permissions for coal excavation just five kilometers from the iconic Ramappa Temple and Ramappa Lake will cause devastating damages. Heavy blasting and continuous digging operations risk compromising the structural stability of the ancient temple and the embankments of the historic reservoir. Additionally, water pollution from mining activity threatens to contaminate groundwater supplies while destroying vast stretches of forest cover, fertile agricultural land, and local biodiversity.
Furthermore, he cautioned that environmental degradation caused by opencast mining could lead UNESCO to revoke the World Heritage tag awarded to the Ramappa Temple, drawing parallels to similar heritage losses in nations like Oman and South Africa. Such a revocation would severely hamper the region’s rapidly growing tourism sector and local economic prospects.
Calling for immediate action, Dr. Seshu urged the Central Government to intervene urgently to safeguard the nation’s historical and cultural legacy. He emphasized that authorities must prioritize preserving environmental balance and historical monuments over commercial mining interests.
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