AP Govt earns Rs100 cr in red sanders auctioning

Vijayawada: Minister for forest Sidda Raghava Rao said that the state government received Rs 99.95 crore through auctioning of red sanders in the first phase of the eleventh instalment on Tuesday.

In a statement here on Thursday, the Minister said that 246.438 metric tonnes of red sanders, including 224.029 tonnes A grade variety and 22.409 tonnes B grade, was auctioned fetching a revenue of Rs 99.95 crore to the exchequer.

It may be recalled that 1051.917 tonnes of red sanders in 50  lots were put to action and the first 10 lots fetched the above amount. Sidda Raghava said that the second and third phases of auctioning on August 21 and 28 would fetch more revenue to the government.

The Minister strongly condemned the attack on the Forest officials at Sunnipenta in Kurnool district and said stern action would be taken against the accused.

He had instructed the Forest department higher officials to take precautions to prevent such incidents, he said. ``Precautions would be taken to provide protection to the forest staff by arming them,” he added.