The state government will come out with a new sand mining policy in a week's time, putting an end to the problems being faced by the construction and infrastructure industry in the state, said Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy at the all India general council meeting of the Builders Association of India (BAI) on Saturday.
“Yes, I know that about 50 lakh labourers have lost their jobs due to the ban on sand mining. But we have to be careful as there are court cases. We are sorting out all modernisation works, looking into water and seasonal issues. By next week or so, a new sand policy will be brought, solving the problems being faced by construction, infrastructure and cement industry: the CM said.
On the proposal of Builders Association of India to set up its own cement manufacturing industry to break the cement companies’ cartel, Mr Reddy said the BAI will get all possible support if it gives some stakes to the state government in the cement industry and also supplies cement (to the government) on cost to cost basis. He also assured that the government will give grants to National Academy of Construction.
Despite HC ban, sand mining goes on
The illegal sand mining is going on unabated in the several districts in the state despite being banned by the AP High Court. In the latest incident, Mahbubnagar district revenue and police officials seized two trucks and two tractors of sand at Basavaiahpally in Devarakadra mandal. In Srikakulam, officials seized two lorries of sand near Pedapadu.
Police sources say that the cases were only a tip of the iceberg. "Actually it is the duty of revenue and mines officials to check the menace. We can book cases only when they lodge a complaint. But they rarely approach us," said a police official. The excavation of sand is illegally going on unabated on the banks of rivers Krishna, Tungabhadra and Godavari in several districts like Krishna, Karimnagar, Mahbubn-agar, Guntur, Khammam and East Godavari. Other rivers like Nagavali, Penna and Vamshadhara are also affected.
The High Court had on April 12 refused to lift the stay it had imposed on sand mining and auction of sand reaches in the state. The Supreme Court also refused to vacate the stay granted by the HC.