Jagan alleges nexus between sand mafia and TDP

Amaravati: YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy's 143rd day of Praja Sankalpa Yatra started from Chinna Agiripalli in Agiripalli mandal and entered into Gannavaram Assembly constituency on Monday. 

The Opposition leader visited the Brahmayya Lingam tank which is being excavated for the past 2-3 years under the Neeru Chettu scheme by the TDP government. The Brahmayya Lingam Cheruvu was formed in 13th century and spread in Agiripalli and Gannavaram mandals and is a source of irrigation water for about 10,000 acres. It is connected to Polavaram Right Main Canal.

The ancient tank has gradually shrunk in size because of silt and encroachments. The YSRCP chief has said that the allegation by the locals of Gannavaram and Agiripalli mandal areas was that under the name of renovation of tanks and in implementing Neeru-Chettu scheme, earth was being mined from the tank illegally and was being sent to a construction company, which involved in construction works of the Vijayawada-Machilipatnam highway project and Gannavaram Airport project.  

Jaganmohan Reddy has further alleged that the people in the surrounding villages have openly accused the ruling party of running the earth mafia. He regretted that the officials are turning a blind eye on the illegal mining.

“There is misuse of the sand that is being excavated for a public welfare programme and is being used for private gains by the builders through the local MLA of TDP. The officials have no control over illicit mining,” the YSRC chief said. The YSRC president says that there exists a nexus among illegal sand mining mafia, the ruling government and the officials including police and revenue departments.

“In fact, sand mining turned rampant after TDP came to power and there have been requests for CBI inquiry. The involvement of TDP leaders in sand mafia is established beyond doubt with none other than the Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu himself accepting the fact. However, officials were made scapegoat in the whole episode,” Jagan added.