Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Crackdown on sand lorries

VIJAYAWADA: Lorries carrying sand in excess of the prescribed quantity are a potential threat to road users, as these vehicles are not easily controllable in emergency situations and, thus, cause irreparable damage and loss of human life.

Overloading is perceived as the most common violation resorted to by vehicle owners and sand quarry owners who primarily aim at making quick money while avoiding payment of proper taxes.

Following a directive from Transport Commissioner Poonam Malakondaiah, the transport authorities in Krishna district have embarked on a fool-proof plan to root out the perennial problem of overloading of sand lorries. All arrangements have been made for the launch of a special drive against overloaded sand lorries all over the district, more particularly on the routes leading to all sand reaches, from Tuesday.

Deputy Transport Commissioner T. Raghunath told The Hindu on Monday that the traffic hazards caused by overloaded sand lorries on national highways and State highways was a matter of serious concern and the present drive was aimed at addressing this effectively. “We have received instructions from the Transport Commissioner to take tough action in the interests of road safety. Heavy fines will be imposed on violators,” he disclosed.

Mr. Raghunath said that a round-the-clock vigil would be maintained on all important routes to catch the violators. The help of authorities from neighbouring districts would also be taken to block secret routes used by sand lorry drivers to escape from the eyes of transport officials.

The issue was taken up with district Collector Navin Mittal and Superintendent of Police D. Ramakrishnaiah and the support of Mines and Geology Department was sought in making the special drive a success. The Transport Department would also take the help of police constables for protection and security to face sand quarry owners and lorry operators.

Mr. Raghunath said that in order to escape from the checking by the special squads, drivers of sand lorries were following various internal routes in Nalgonda and Khammam districts to move to and from Hyderabad to transport sand. The administrations of the two neighbouring districts were being approached to seek their help in controlling the movement of sand lorries, he added.

Besides imposing heavy fines, there would even be seizure of lorries in the case of serious violations. A most common violation was that the sand lorries would be taking the material in excess of two to five tonnes beyond the prescribed 10 tonnes.

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