Rajamahendravaram: WRD proposes to excavate sand from River Godavari

Rajamahendravaram: Water Resource Development Department has estimated that lakhs of cubic metres of sand is available in the River Godavari.

The State government may allow excavation to ensure that there is scarcity of sand, according to officials The officials have made the suggestion in the wake of the State government trying to see that there is scarcity of sand. The sand is available in huge quantities downstream of Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage. It has been revealed by a survey.

According to an engineer of WRD, a detailed special survey is needed to get the actual sand stocks in the river and as per barrage security committee the dredging or digging cannot be taken up below three kilometres of the barrage.

The department has not yet taken up dredging operations as tenders in this regard have not been finalised. The quality of sand accumulated in the river is 2.5 fideness modues Value (FMV). The sand is rough, and it is in a good demand. The department has already sent proposals for dredging operations in the river and waiting for approval.

Meanwhile, the daily usage of sand in the district is 22,000 to 24,000 metric tonnes and at present only 19,000 metric tonnes of sand is being made available a day.