AP to excavate sand from Pattalands to meet the demand: Peddireddy

Amaravati: Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Peddireddy Ramchandra Reddy directed the officials to excavate sand from Pattalands across the state, as the public suffering with the scarcity of the essential raw material in the construction sector.

Addressing the officials Joint Collectors and Mining department officials at a Workshop conducted at Secretariat on Saturday, he stated that at present only 35,000 tons of sand is being excavated in the state per day. He directed them to increase it to more than 1 lakh tons per day. Since the sand excavation in the Rivers could not possible due to heavy floods from the last three months, the officials asked to focus on alternative sources of sand. The primary focus must be shifted on to Pattadar lands, he suggested.

In the workshop, he said that the government has been taking steps to increase the supply of sand to one lakh tonnes per day and asked the officials to take necessary steps.

Ramachandra Reddy assured to give permission for tractors at first, second, and third grade reaches. In order to ease the system, the government will instruct village secretariat employees at reaches and make it online.

The minister asked the mining officials and district joint collectors to coordinate each other and enhance the sand supply.

On the sand crisis in the state due to floods, the Minister asked officials to take necessary action so that people would not face any difficulties due to non-availability of sand. Currently, 35,000 tonnes of sand is being supplied every day. This should be increased to 1 lakh tonnes of sand supply every day, he said.

Sand mining is facing problems from the past three months due to floods. Till the floods recede the minister has ordered to concentrate on sand from Patta lands. Already applications from several districts have been received for sand mining.

To benefit the locals in the district the Minister instructed the officials to give priority for the locals and reserve sand for the district people that have applied online.

In order to increase the sand supply, the minister gave responsibility to the respective district joint collectors.

He also discussed about sand mining at open reaches and asked the officials to identify and stock points according to the reaches.