THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE V.V.S. RAO THURSDAY, THE 17TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2005 W.P.No. 456 of 2003 Between:- K. Srinivasa Rao --Petitioner And Government of Andrha Pradesh, rep., by its Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and three others. --Respondents Oral order:- (W.P.No. 456 of 2003) The District Collector, Nizamabad, by the proceedings dated 06-10-2002, having regard to the unprecedented drought in the district in all the thirty six (36) Mandals, imposed ban on the sand mining in the district as per the decision taken by the Neeru-Meeru Committee and the orders of this court in W.P.No. 7596 of 2002 and batch. The petitioner, who obtained the lease to quarry sand pursuant to a notification dated 03-05-2001 assails the proceedings of the District Collector on various grounds. According to the petitioner, he became the highest bidder at Rs.75,051-00 for a period of two years with effect from 01-10-2000 to 30-09-2002. The lease period, therefore, expired long ago and it would be a futile exercise to give any direction at this stage. Further, a perusal of the impugned proceedings of the District Collector would show that a decision was taken in a right direction having regard to the drought condition. Any permission to quarry sand in the water bodies would further result further depletion of ground water. The writ petition is, therefore, dismissed. No costs. ____________ V.V.S. RAO, J Dated: 17-11-2005 Pvks/*