SRIKAKULAM: Collector Lakshmi Narasimham announced that new restrictions on sand mining and trade would come into effect this month. According to new regulation, no bulk orders are allowed and orders have also been issued for strict implementation of the sand policy. The price of each cubic metre of sand has been increased from `500 to `650 as well. “Orders are issued to stop export of sand to other districts. The illegal transportation can be checked if the sand exports are limited to government sand depots from other districts,” said the collector.
Sand business is ruling the district. Illegal transport of sand is the order of the day since there is plenty of it happening in the Vamsadhara and the Nagavali rivers. Though the Chandrababu Naidu government brought out a new sand policy to arrest the flourishing illegal sand trade under the previous Congress regime, the new TD government failed to implement it effectively.
The women self-help groups were entrusted with the responsibility of sand sales and the sand loading in the vehicles is to be done before 6 pm. Violating all the rules, sand is being transported all through the night. The traders are minting money in the process.
Out of the government permitted 26 sand mining reaches in the district, mining is being done only at nine places. But the officials are not able to check the rampant smuggling of sand under their very nose even though there is a committee headed by the district collector to check the illegal trade.
There is flourishing sand trade from Hayatinagaram, Ponnada, Muddadapeta, Mabugam, Killipalem, Singur, Pargam, Gopalapenta and Chetulavalasa reaches. But the government permitted bulk booking of sand only from Hayatinagaram Revu in Srikakulam town. Large-scale dumps are being made at the reach, inviting all-round flak. Similar conditions prevail at all other sand ramps. The committee makes a thorough review before making a ramp but it is failing when it comes to mining.
Moreover, the presence of women SHGs is only nominal while the local leaders rule the roost. The leaders without restraint, transport sand from the reaches. The district-level sand committee headed by collector estimates the availability of sand in the riverbeds and the government permits the mining as per the committee report.
Sand mining depends on the depth of the riverbed. According to Groundwater Resources department, sand mining can be done only for one metre depth if the riverbed depth is eight metres and two metres mining for the riverbed depth of more than eight metres. Since the rivers in the district have only three to eight metre deep beds, only one metre sand mining can be done, the department clarified. The representative of the Groundwater department in the committee is also overlooking the depth of the sand mining, when the mining is being done for three metres. The groundwater level may be affected because of the mining. Government’s promise to strictly execute WALT (Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Trees) Act guidelines for effective implementation of the Sand Act has failed completely.
Meanwhile, local bigwigs with political patronage made some proposals. Since the sand from the district is the main source for the north Andhra, nobody is able to rein in the sand trade. Since the government gets sizable revenue from sand transportation, it is also indifferent to check it.
YSRC leader Dharmana Prasada Rao alleged that the illegal sand mining was being done with the blessings of minister Achannaidu. If the mining was done legally why was it stopped when a team went on inspection mission to the sand mining areas? questioned Dharmana Prasada Rao. Earlier, the government was getting `3 to 4 crore revenue through floating tenders. Over 9,87,000 cubic metre of sand has been sold this year so far and the government secured a revenue of `54 crore. An amount of `38 lakh was deposited in the account of the women SHGs. The government was satisfied with the revenue but the problem of illegal sand trade remains.