CM gives officials 60 days time in Amaravati

Amaravati: As the state government is being flooded with complaints of sand scarcity even after the introduction of the new sand policy on September 5, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy set a deadline of 60 days to sort out the problem.

"As the floods have decreased and sand is available, the price of sand also should be reduced. There should be a concrete change in the system in next 60 days," he said, during a review meeting on Spandana programme at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

Jagan instructed the officials to immediately address the issues relating to the sand supply and transportation and evolve a system that works in the interest of the people.

He told the officials that the government would pay Rs 4.90 per kilometre to whoever comes forward to transport the sand in the state. All the sand reaches in the state should be open and a joint collector level officer should be appointed as in-charge for supply and transportation of sand in the districts.

District collectors brought to the notice of the Chief Minister that the transportation of sand has become difficult due to rains. Jagan directed the officials to ensure that corporations provide loans to BC, SC and ST unemployed youth to buy vehicles which would be used for transportation of sand through contracts.

He also told the officials to see that no corruption takes place in sand transportation. "Don't encourage political recommendations in sand supply and transportation and sand mafia should be eradicated.

I will give a free hand to officials in this regard," said the Chief Minister. He instructed the officials to setup check-posts at borders of the state and ensure sand is not exported to other states.