Sand prices go through the roof in Vizianagaram

Vizianagaram: After two months of ban on sand, the government has opened two sand stock points, one at Pedathadivada of Denkada mandal and another at G Seetharampuram near Bobbili town in Vizianagaram district to facilitate the construction industry.

As of now, the district administration is getting the sand from Srikakulam district and storing at these stock points. Consumers can buy the sand from these points. Based on the distance from Srikakulam, a tonne of sand is priced at Rs 871 at Pedathadivada and the same is at Rs 1,018 at G Seetharampuram. The district administration is purchasing tonne of sand by paying Rs 375 from Srikakulam district, which is nearly 90 kms away from Pedatadivada and at the same time, G Seetharampuram is 120 kms from Srikakulam. Collector M Harijawaharlal stated that supply of sand would be stabilised within a few days.

Makkuva Sridhar, a builder in Vizianagaram, said "We have stopped the construction of apartment due to scarcity of sand. We have to start the work afresh if sand is available here. We have to bear additional burden as sand prices touched roof," he said.

As the flood situation recedes in Nagavali river, the government would open more sand reaches in Vizianagaram district and then the price of sand would come down, he hoped. Only the Nagavali river has huge quantity of sand in Komarada and Kallikota but now the river has good level of water, so the vehicles can't reach there to excavate sand. Once the floods recede, the government will give permissions to excavate sand from the river, an official said. For getting sand, the consumer can apply online and pay the amount as per their demand. Within two days, they can collect the sand from the respective stock point.