It is now possible to book sand at village and ward secretariats said Gopala Krishna Dwivedi

The State Underground Department Principal Secretary Gopala Krishna Dwivedi said that the government is taking steps to make sand available for consumers at ease in the state. He said that several decisions were taken in a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on June 5. "After the government announced the new sand policy, we are conducting sand sales with transparency through APMDC," Dwivedi said.

He said that Andhra Pradesh is the only state in the country to offer Door Delivery of Sand to consumers through online. He also said that the government is taking all possible steps to address them from time to time, while also acknowledging the problems faced by the new system. "In order to fully control the sand mafia, we have set up cameras, stock points and check posts at the same time, conducting contingency checks under the auspices of the Department of Mines, Revenue and Transport and all checks by the Government Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB)," Dwivedi asserted. He said the government has imposed a two-year jail term and a fine of up to two lakh rupees for selling the sand illegally

Gopala Krishna Dwivedi said that those who want sand so far can book online. However, those who have access to high speed internet will get the sand first and book the portal shortly after launch. The government said it was concerned that the remaining customers were having trouble booking the sand. He said that CM YS Jagan has ordered at a review meeting held on 5th of this month that the sand bookings be issued by the village secretariats as well to resolve the issue. Sand is likely to be booked through secretaries when official orders are issued.

Customers who wants to book the sand through the secretariats will have to undergo field-checking and verification whether the they need sand or not. This made it clear that even those who do not need sand will not be able to book the sand and sell it in the black market.