Andhra Pradesh   

Use of machinery for sand-mining banned in A.P.

Special Correspondent

Government announces `eco-friendly' policy

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Government on Tuesday announced an `eco-friendly' sand-mining policy, imposing a ban on use of machinery and restricting the depth for extracting sand from river-beds and other water bodies to two metres.

The restriction on the depth up to which the riverbed could be excavated has been resorted to ensure proper flow in the river and thus save ecology. Contractors are now found digging to a depth of 15 metres with the help of machines, and even extracting the earth after touching the river floor.

If the sand is procured without a permit, a one-time penalty will be collected to serve as a source of revenue to municipality. Housing for weaker sections and irrigation projects, however, have been exempted from payment of seignorage. Sand carried on bullock-carts and animals have also been exempted.

As part of the policy, use of rock sand will be encouraged in order to reduce pressure on riverbeds. The new policy was finalised at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekara Reddy.

Panchayat Raj Minister J. C. Diwakar Reddy and Mines Minister P. Sabitha Reddy later told reporters that committees would be formed in each district to demarcate the sand-bearing areas and auction them after fixing an upset price. The bid amount would be enhanced by 20 per cent during the second year.

However, Boatmen Cooperative Societies bidding the areas would be given 10 per cent concession over the highest bid amount with the facility to clear the amount in four instalments.

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