Steps on to end sand scarcity: Collector

Srikakulam: In-charge collector C M Sai Kanth Varma in Thursday stated that the government would give top priority to overcome the sand scarcity in the district. Speaking to The Hans India here on Thursday, Varma said, "We are going to identify sand reaches in Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Mahendratanaya and Bahuda rivers.

Storage points will be kept along the river basins and transported for fixed rates to the customers after adoption of new policy. Till then, sand will be supplied from the storage points."

According to sources, the YSRCP government has scrapped the prevailing free sand policy immediately after assuming charge. As a result, scarcity of sand arose, and construction works came to a halt. In Srikakulam, sand stored as heaps during free sand policy on the banks of Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Mahendratanaya and Bahuda rivers.

After receiving huge resistance from public over the sudden scrapping of sand policy, the government started measures to supply sand. Now, the government entrusted powers to mandal-level tahsildars for allowing sand mining and transportation.

Sand will be supplied to government works on priority and private persons can also apply through online to tahsildars of mandals concerned for required sand. The YSRCP government scrapped old free sand policy as it was helpful for sand mafia across the state.

In Srikakulam also, one TDP MLA whose segment located adjacent to Srikakulam city and situated between two main rivers Vamsadhara and Nagavali earned crores of rupees through sand mining. The MLA himself maintained nine sand reaches against rules in three mandals.

The paternal uncle's son of the MLA who was a radio mechanic and belongs to Ponduru mandal, also turned as leader for sand mafia. This is a live example for anarchy prevailed in TDP regime in the name of free sand policy.

But, the present YSRCP government need to prevent such anarchy and adopted a new policy from September 5 this year. In the meanwhile, the government decided to permit sand mining at existing approved reaches.