Exploration of beach sand minerals won’t threaten course of Nagavali, Vamsadhara rivers: Rammohan Naidu

Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Saturday said there is no threat to the natural course of the Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers due to the exploration of beach sand minerals along the Srikakulam coast in Andhra Pradesh.

The Srikoormam and Bhavanapadu Placer Deposits have beach sand minerals like Ilmenite, rutile, zircon, sillimanite and rutile. A decade ago, mining of these minerals was allowed in the Srikoormam Placer Deposit, which is nestled between the confluence of Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers with the Bay of Bengal.

The exploration of the beach sand minerals came to light again after the Centre announced development of Rare Earth Mineral Corridors (REMC) in South India, including Andhra Pradesh, in the Union Budget 2026.

Speaking to the media at a press conference here, Mr. Rammohan Naidu said: “All the legal hurdles have been cleared for the exploration of the beach sand minerals along the Srikakulam coast. There will be no threat to the ecosystems of the two rivers – Nagavali and Vasmadhara – due to the exploration.” 

Mr. Rammohan added that scientific studies are being conducted to restore the courses of these two rivers, which are facing threat from aquaculture practices.

New airport

On the proposal to develop an airport in the Godavari region, Mr. Rammohan Naidu said that the State government was yet to take a final call on the airport, which was earlier proposed in Kakinada and Tuni.