Centre’s help sought to curb sanders smuggling

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday appealed to the Central government for its intervention in combating red sanders smuggling in the state and sought the cooperation of the neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to end the menace.

The Chief Minister spoke at the 26th Southern Zonal Council meeting with the representatives of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting.

Addressing the delegates, Chandrababu Naidu briefed the initiatives of the State government to prevent red sanders smuggling. However, he regretted that the neighboring States were not as supportive to the government as they required. He wanted the Union Home Minister to intervene and build a better working relationship among the neigbouring states to fight smuggling. The Union Home Minister said he would convene a meeting with all the three States and workout strategy for better coordination.

The Chief Minister had also requested the Union Home Minister to provide high speed rail from Chennai to Amaravati and Bengaluru. He also requested the Union Minister to recommend for the dedicated third railway line along the coast for the freight. The Union Home Minister said that he would take up the issue with the Railway Ministry and ensure that a meeting with all the States along the coast.

Earlier in his presidential address, Rajnath said that the zonal councils would be made active and major decisions would be taken at those meetings. He further said that the country was facing serious challenge from the Left wing extremism and sought the cooperation of the States to fight it. He felt the need to counter the extremism effectively and collectively. “Among other challenges, coastal security in the southern States needs to be strengthened,” he added.