Sand continues to elude as new policy proves ineffective in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Sand continues to be elusive in Srikakulam district. The new sand policy has not yet led to adequate supply of sand and in fact it has reportedly turned out to be a boon for corrupt employees. The district administration has identified 18 reaches at Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers to excavate sand.

Total permitted area for excavating sand is 77.7415 hectares and total quantity of sand that can be excavated is 7, 7,415 cubic meters. Six stock points have been handed over to contractors. Revenue, police, AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC), Mines and Geology Departments have been directed to work in coordination in ensuring supply of sand to people.

District-level sand committee (DLSC) have fixed price per tractor load of sand differently Assembly constituency wise basing on sand availability. Each tractor carried carries 4.5 tonnes of sand. In Srikakulam, Itchapuram amd Amudalavalasa constituencies, each tractor load of sand is priced at Rs 2,400, in Narasannapeta,Palakonda and Rajam constituencies it is Rs 2,500, in Etcherla constituency is Rs 2,700, in Pathapatnam it is Rs 2,600, in Tekkali price is Rs 3,500 and in Palasa it will cost Rs 4,100.

Transport cost is additional for the tractor basing on the distance from the stock point to delivery point. According sources, there are no clear guidelines in regard to fixations of transport cost. 'During the time when the sand was supplied free, each tractor load was Rs 800, now its price crossed Rs 3,500 which includes transport charges.

It has imposed burden on us' Y Rama Rao of Ragolu village in Srikakulam rural mandal said. He is constructing a house in his village. Meanwhile, in the name of ensuing order of priority for sand supply, officials concerned are reportedly according priority to dispatch loads of sand to Visakhapatnam. Public Relations officer (PRO) to a Ministers is also allegedly involved in the racket.

Deputy Director S K V Satyannarayana, while speaking to The Hans India, denied that there were any irregularities in supply of sand. But he was unable to clarify the allegation of according priority to the supply of sand to some areas.