Visakhapatnam: Consumers in Vizag continue to import sand from Odisha as it is easier for them to buy it from the neighbouring state than from the government depot.
The high cost of sand and a low quantity being supplied at the government depots is the main reason for the people to prefer Odisha.
After implementing a contingency plan for seven days, it has come to light that only 35 people have bought sand from the government depot in Vizag.
Until Saturday, the district administration was allowing builders or individual consumers only one unit per structure. As there is no response from the public, the administration agreed to sell two units per person or structure.
On the first day, 11 consumers purchased sand and by the fourth day, the number dwindled to only one.
Meanwhile, consumers found it easy to continue purchasing their required quantity of sand from Odisha and since the unit cost is almost the same as the government price, they have no misgivings either. More importantly, they avoid providing documents, pictures and plan details for a single unit of sand.
A retail purchaser B. Venkat said, “Why should I buy sand from the government depot when it is available at a low cost elsewhere? Just with a phone call, sellers unload the sand at the spot I want. If I choose to go for the sand depot, I have to visit the mining office and provide documents. After receiving a ticket, again I have to travel for about six kilometres to reach the depot and should look for transportation of the sand.”
A senior officials from mines department said, “As we have to load the sand in Srikakulam and dump it in Vizag after transporting, it is quite costly for us. Our intention is to make sand available for consumers.”
