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Free sand policy turns boon on mafia
The state government’s free sand policy failed in its implementation and aim of the government remains on papers. The government introduced the free sand policy by losing its revenue in the form of seigniorage tax to provide sand to people free of cost.
Srikakulam: The state government’s free sand policy failed in its implementation and aim of the government remains on papers. The government introduced the free sand policy by losing its revenue in the form of seigniorage tax to provide sand to people free of cost.
But people are also unable to get sand at free of cost and they are paying Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 for per tractor sand in different areas across the district. The free sand policy has become a boon to mafia who are followers and relatives of ruling party leaders in the district.
The District-level Sand Committee (DLSC) officials allotted 10 sand reaches across the district by allowing sand excavation from Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers in seven mandals. Out of the 10 approved sand reaches, Singuru and Muddadapeta in Ponduru and Amudalavalasa mandals have been reserved for the government works in Visakhapatnam city and district where sand is not available to satisfy demand, while rest of the eight reaches are meant for common public.
But in practical, rules are being violated out rightly in the two types of reaches and mafia is ruling the reaches by showing their monopoly. Common people are not collecting sand from these reaches for their personal work at free of cost and local mafia is not allowing them into reaches and they have to purchase from them by paying price whatever amount fixed by them.
Mafia members are doing sand business with full political support by creating fake permit vouchers in the name of government works in Visakhapatnam city and district. But in practical sand is being transported to Visakhapatnam for private purpose through heavy vehicles by collecting huge amount from the private persons.
Police, revenue, mines and geology departments’ officials are competent to prevent excavating and shifting of sand for business purpose as per the GO NO. 42. Due to political pressure, they are unable to achieve the government’s aim through free sand policy. “We are booking cases on a tip-off,” explained Srikakulam revenue divisional officer Balivada Dayanidhi, DSP K Bhargavrao Naidu and assistant director of mines and geology of Srikakulam Thamminadi.
By Ch Lakshamana Rao
