Kakinada: Illegal sand mining is rampant in East and West Godavari districts. Even in authorised sand reaches, the illegal mining is going on, according to sources.
The local leaders have formed syndicates and dictating sand prices and minting money. Though the government announced the new sand policy that supplies sand free of cost by fixing wage and transport rates, the syndicates are dictating the prices.
According to sources, the illegal mining is taking place in nearly 11 sand reaches only in Tanuku constituency, despite there were no permission for the reaches.
Though the government banned the machines to mine sand reaches, the syndicates are using ma-chines. In East Godavari, the district administration has given permission to 20 sand reaches. However, the local leaders in the villages of sand reaches, are not allowing the other labourers to mine reaches.
However, collector H. Arunkumar gave strict instructions to the officials to curb the illegal sand mafia. He appointed special teams consisting of revenue, police and related departments and instructed them to keep a close watch on the sand reaches to prevent illegal mining.
Superintendent of Police M. Ravi Prakash said that stringent action would be taken against the violators who are dictating the prices at mining areas.
He said name plates displaying fixed rates for transport and coolie charges for sand mining at the reaches would be installed. If the labourers or transport vehicle owners collect excess charge than fixed, their vehicles would be seized and cases would be booked against them under the Mines and Minerals Acts.
Stating the government has ordered to supply sand free of cost, he said people in nearby villages should not create any hurdle to consumers in lifting of sand.
