Set up special task force to stop illegal sand mining: Minister Ajay

Khammam: Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar called upon the officials and elected representatives to strive towards effective implementation of welfare and development programmes in the district.

Speaking at the ZP general body meeting here on Thursday, he said the State government was allocating huge amounts of funds to the local bodies. Despite the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic, the government was able to take the benefits of welfare and development programmes to the public in the current year.

Referring to the complaints about illegal sand mining, Ajay Kumar told the officials to take serious measures to control illegal sand mining in the district. He suggested setting up of a special task force involving police, revenue and mining departments to control illegal mining and transportation of sand.

Inspections have to be conducted from 6 pm to 6 am daily to check the illegal sand transportation. Around 2, 200 cubic metres of sand from river Godavari reaches was available for private use at the sand yard at NSP camp, the Minister said.

District Collector RV Karnan responding to queries raised over sand availability by several members, said that tokens will be issued to local needs tahsildars for sand supply. Immediate steps would be taken to set up a special task force to check illegal sand transportation, he added.

Referring to paddy procurement, the Collector said every grain of paddy with prescribed moisture content would be procured. On the absence of mandal level officials at Mandal Praja Parishad general body meetings, he said action would be initiated against the erring officials.

ZP Chairman Lingala Kamalraj said a representation would be sent to the State government through the Transport Minister seeking supply of fine rice to Anganwadi centres.

MLC B Lakshminarayana, ZP CEO, Ch Priyanka, Additional Collector Sneha Latha, DCMS chairman R Seshagiri Rao, District Library Chairman Qamar and others were present.