Visakhapatnam: Botcha assures all steps to overcome sand crisis

Visakhapatnam: Minister for municipal administration and urban development Botcha Satyanarayana said the sand crisis will be overcome at the earliest by the state government.

At a meeting held at the circuit house here on Wednesday along with tourism minister M Srinivasa Rao, he reviewed the sand availability and distribution system in place.

He said that the sand reaches in Srirkakulam district could not be reached due to flood situation and hence alternative arrangement would be made soon. "The government's new policy, climatic conditions and the loopholes in the government machinery had hindered the process of sand reaching to the contractors at the required time. There is a need for 7 lakh cubic metre sand for the contractors in the district every month, apart from 12 lakh cubic metre sand required to meet the other requirements every year.

He also spoke to minister for mines and geology Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy and other senior officials to make available sand to contractors working on government-related constructions as per their requirement.

Speaking on the occasion, tourism minister M Srinivasa Rao said the condition would improve by Deepavali as sand availability in the depot will be ensured based on the requirement in each district. Apart from the existing depots in the district, he said Nakkapalli, Narsipatnam and Chodavaram will have depots soon, he informed.

Visakhapatnam MP M V V Satyanarayana explained the challenges faced by the construction industries as well as contractors and builders due to sand shortage.

Meanwhile, Botcha along with the tourism minister handed over a cheque for Rs 10 lakh to a relative of the victim M Ramana Babu who lost his life and his family members in the recent boat accident occurred near Devipatnam mandal of East Godavari district. This is the second cheque B. Lakshmi received after the initial payment of Rs.20 lakh.