Daijiworld Media Network - Srikakulam
Srikakulam, Oct 13: Around 1,200 residents of Punnam and Batuva villages in G. Sigadam mandal of Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district have objected to geo-coordinate surveys and soil testing for manganese exploration in a 152-hectare block, alleging that the activities have extended into cultivated agricultural lands.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, villagers alleged that Vedanta Limited had extended its operations beyond the officially approved boundaries and entered agricultural fields where crops are currently being grown.
Farmers expressed concern that unauthorised drilling, borewell operations and excavation could damage standing crops, affect soil quality and deplete or contaminate water resources, threatening their livelihoods.
“These farmlands are our only means of survival, and no company should enter without legal permission or our consent,” the villagers said.
The residents urged officials to verify whether the survey numbers and boundaries approved by the Mandal Revenue Office (MRO) correspond with the locations where testing is being conducted. They demanded the immediate suspension of any exploration or testing beyond permitted areas and called for legal action if unauthorised activities are confirmed.
They also sought government supervision and joint inspections by officials from the Revenue, Mines and Geology and other concerned departments. The villagers said local residents should be clearly informed about the nature and extent of the proposed activities.
They further demanded that testing, drilling and excavation in cultivated fields be stopped until an investigation is completed, stressing the need to protect agricultural land, crops and water resources.
According to the villagers, nearly 139 hectares of the 152-hectare block comprise farmers’ patta lands, while the remaining area belongs to the government. They said the geo-coordinates of Punnam and Batuva villages fall within the identified block.
G. Sigadam Tahsildar M. Saritha said a team from IIT Bhubaneswar visited Punnam village on October 2, 2026, for mineral identification and geo-coordinate testing. However, the team left the site after villagers raised objections, she said.
Saritha clarified that further proceedings would be taken up in accordance with official guidelines only after mineral identification in the specified block.
The villagers reiterated their demand for strict enforcement of approved boundaries and protection of farmers’ rights, warning that exploration activities without adequate safeguards could threaten agriculture and local water resources.