Congress accuses Jupally of backing sand mafia

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Spokesperson Dr. Dasoju Sravan on Friday demanded that Minister Jupally Krishna Rao be sacked from cabinet for his alleged involvement in sand mafia operations. He also called Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Siddhu's praise for TS sand policy as a statement made in ignorance.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday, the Congress leader alleged that Minister Jupally Krishna Rao was backing the sand mafia in Kollahpur. He said sand worth over Rs. 30 crore has been smuggled from Kolhapur to Venugonda project in AP in boats through Krishna River. He said all rules of Forest Act were violated in construction of a 7 km road in a Tiger Reserve to facilitate illegal transportation of sand. He said sand mining was being done in the area without calling for any tenders. He said at least 40 trucks and 200 tipper lorries were being used to transport the sand illegally.

Sravan said that the Congress has all evidences to prove illegal sand mining in Kollahpur. He also presented pictures, videos and Google Map images to prove his allegation. He demanded that Jupally be sacked from cabinet immediately and Rs. 30 crore losses to the State's Exchequer be recovered from him. He said inaction by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao in this regard would be an indication that everything was being done with his active connivance.

He alleged that a mafia was actively involved in sand mining operations across Telangana State. He said sand worth crores of rupees is being illegally smuggled to neighbouring States, especially Andhra Pradesh. He demanded a high level probe into the activities of sand mafia in the State.

Sravan said that Punjab Minister Navjit Singh Siddhu had praised the sand policy of Telangana Government out of complete ignorance. He said Siddhu's statement was completely uncalled for as he was not aware of the reality of huge irregularities and scams going on in sand mining in Telangana. He said that the Punjab Minister would be invited to Telangana again to show him the real situation.

The Congress leader said TRS leaders have become habitual of inviting various ministers and leaders from other States and make them praise the TRS Government thus misleading the people. As part of the same strategy, Siddhu and Baba Ramdev were made to praise the KCR Government. He also informed that he would complain to Congress High Command on Siddhu's praise of TRS Government.