Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Sweeping changes shortly in new sand policy

Special Correspondent

Subject to come under Mining Department; new set-up for extraction

KURNOOL: The new sand policy will bring about sweeping changes in the sand extraction and collection of cess. The Government decided to have an exclusive set-up to deal with sand extraction by posting an officer of the rank of Assistant Director.

Also, sand subject would be placed under the Mining Department taking if off from the local bodies and Panchayat department. Since sand is an important raw material for the construction industry, any restrictions on extraction led to escalation of cost.

Smuggling

On the other hand, a free hand prompted large scale smuggling of sand to far-off places. The Government constituted a new committee with Joint Collector as chairman while representatives from Mining, Ground Water, Irrigation and Panchayat departments would be on the panel.

The Government initiated necessary amendments to the existing Acts to accommodate the new policy, which would transfer the responsibilities to Mining department. Even Mining department created a new post -- Assistant Director (sand) to handle the issue.

Also, the Government decided to allow only manual extraction placing restrictions on employment of excavators. Sand extraction would be allowed only at the places where depth of the sand is beyond three metres.

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