KADAPA: The Andhra Pradesh state government is implementing its new sand policy from September 5, 2019 onwards. The government announced that it would adopt the sand policy that was being implemented in Telangana. According to the mining and geology officials, all the sand quarries will be managed by the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation.
According to sources the salient features of the new sand mining policy-2019 are as follows. Sand is available in the state from three sources. The first is rivers and streams, the second is through the de-silting of reservoirs and the third is the de-casting of private patta lands. The sand available from rivers and streams is cast into several categories depending upon its size and capacity.
A proper administrative mechanism is being put in place by the district collector for the enforcement of extraction and transportation of sand from the notified streams.
A preliminary identification of river streams that has an abundance of sand will be done by the mines and geology department in consultation with the Irrigation, Groundwater and Revenue Departments. Based on preliminary identification, the district level committee under the chairmanship of the joint collector will meet and inspect all the stretches and give a feasibility area report based on WALTA criterion.
The feasible areas will be allotted to the APMDC for excavation, regulation and supply of sand. The APMDC will then obtain all statutory clearances like EC, Mining Plan, PCB clearance for the extraction of sand.
APMDC will then appoint contractors for the sand reaches that have been identified under a strict competitive online bidding process. The sand so excavated will be moved to stockyards managed by the APMDC.
The officers are preparing to release an e-tender notice soon. The stockyards will be near the sand belts. Additional stockyards near urban habitations, especially the Municipal Corporations can also be created. Sale of sand to all consumers, small, medium or large, will be from these stockyards. Sale of sand from these stockyards will be controlled by electronic surveillance (CCTVs) and electronic documentation linked to a central documentation monitoring facility. The way-bills for transportation of sand will have the security seal of the APMDC and will be stamped with date and time. The vehicles will be tracked by way of GPS. Any sand lorry found without APMDC way-bill will be illegal and the vehicle would be seized. The intention of the government is to ensure that adequate quantity of the right quality of sand is available at a reasonable price to the people of the state.
