Andhra Pradesh: Sand prices get pocket-friendly

Vijayawada: With the district administration’s continuous exercise lasting two months, the sand prices have come down from Rs 8,500 to Rs 2,800 per lorry. The district revenue administration has made it mandatory that Gram Sabhas should discuss all sand issues and bring the problems to the notice of the higher authorities. The sand task force has seized eight lorries so far, for violating norms and A Venkata Rao, a resident of Machavaram area has stated that three months back, he paid Rs 7,500 to Rs 8,500 for a truck load of sand.

“Now, the stringent guidelines has ensured that those building their own houses are getting sand at prescribed prices,” said Mr. Venkata Rao. Speaking about this, the district Collector B. Lakshmikantham said that they have made it mandatory for every Gram Sabha to discuss sand related issues and bring the same to the notice of higher-ups.

In fact, around 900 to 1,000 trucks from Government sand reaches, located at Surayapalem, Guntupalli, Ibrahimpatnam, Royyuru, Lankapalli, Chedipudi, Kanchala, Chevitikallu, Sangapadu, Kasarabada and Pokkunuru has been transported to households, NREGA works, Infra works of Government and road laying works in Krishna district. 

“The sand availability has been eased and the prices have also been fixed as per the distance from the sand reaches to the destination,” said Mr A. Subrahmanyeswara Rao, Assistant Director. For a minimum distance of 16 Km, Rs 2,400 is the charge per lorry and for a distance of 40 kilometres, it is estimated that Rs 4,200 per lorry would be the cost,  according to price boards erected by the district administration at various places,” he added.