Purandeswari wants CBI to probe liquor manufacture, sand mining

Vijayawada: BJP state president Daggubati Purandeswari on Saturday demanded a CBI probe into the anomalies in manufacture and supply of liquor and also sand mining during the YSRC regime.

In a letter to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, she alleged that manufacture and supply of non-qualitative liquor in AP had resulted in the death of many innocent citizens, making several women widows and children orphans. These deaths had been due to substandard raw materials, use of synthetic alcohol, outdated distillation and purification equipment, synthetic chemicals and packing of fresh liquor in plastic bottles even before ageing.

Quoting data from union ministry of home affairs on births and deaths, Purandeswari pointed out that one lakh additional people had died every year when compared with the previous year during the last five years. She attributed these deaths to consumption of liquor.

The BJP state president and Rajahmundry MP underlined that she had visited King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam. Officials, who had briefed her, said the number of deaths due to consumption of liquor had increased in the last three years.

She asked for a thorough investigation into the corruption in AP State Beverages Corporation Limited while procuring and distributing liquor from companies to the shops.

In another letter to the CM, Purandeswari asked for an inquiry into the corruption in sand mining in the state. She alleged that illegal sand mining had increased the cost of sand, impacting the construction sector. She said this has affected nearly 35 lakh construction workers in the state.

The AP BJP chief wanted Naidu to develop a new sand policy, which is compliant with the National Green Tribunal. She suggested that sale and delivery of sand must be only through online billing. Further, purified sand could be sold in 25-kg bags, like cement, through a reputed firm. She wanted auction of sand reaches to be done in a transparent manner, which ensures that quality sand is available at an affordable price to the citizens.