Mafia crushed, sand prices down, says Irrigation Minister Harish

Hyderabad: Minister T. Harish Rao on Monday said the sand prices have come down to reasonable levels in TS after the sand mafia was curbed.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, he said government revenues had also increased due to the online sale of sand by the TS Mineral Development Corporation.

“Earlier, a lorry load of sand used to cost Rs 35,000 in undivided Andhra Pradesh, but due to the strict measures taken by the TS government against sand mafia, this has come down to just Rs 11,000,” Mr Harish Rao said.

The minister said that the TS government has come out with a new sand policy in December 2014 bringing utmost transparency by launching online sale of sand through MeeSeva centres.

“The government itself has engaged in sale of sand through TSMDC at affordable rates unlike earlier, when it used to be awarded to private contractors,” Mr Harish Rao said.

Stating that the government has launched special drives to check illegal sand mining and transportation of sand, Mr Harish Rao said, “We have levied a penalty of Rs 11 crore on illegal sand miners and transporters so far. For the third offence, we booked criminal cases against them and seized their vehicles.”

However, the Opposition Congress accused TRS government of encouraging sand mafia. Congress MLA D.K. Aruna said, “Several TRS leaders are facing allegations of colluding with illegal sand miners and minting money out of sale of sand.

The sand mafia has been influencing the government with their support due to which common people are not in a position to buy sand for higher rates. It is also hitting the construction industry.”

Prove charges on projects, Harish challenges congress
Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao on Monday challenged Congress leaders Ranga Reddy and Mohd. Ali Shabbir to prove their party’s claims that it got 18 clearances for irrigation projects and ensured that the height of the Pranahita-Chevella project was 152 metres during its rule.

“I will resign if you prove the claim. Is Ranga Reddy ready to resign if it’s not true?  If Congress got 18 clearances, national project status to Pranahita-Chevella project, if you convinced Maharashtra government to ensuing 152 metres height for the dam, prove it. I will resign,” Mr Harish Rao said in the Legislative Council.

He said that if the members couldn’t prove their claims, they should withdraw their statement. Intervening, Mr Shabbir Ali said if these kinds of challenges were made daily in the House there would be no minister and ruling party legislators left in the House in one year. “The Council will be empty. There should be no challenges,” he said.

Mr Harish Rao replied that he had no intention of making a challenge but Congress and others were constantly indulging in propaganda.
Statements that the TRS government derailed national project status, compromised Pranahita dam height from 152 metres to 148 metres, couldn’t get clearances etc. are not correct,” he said.