Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Sand smuggling causes grave concern

Vital issue: Hindupur legislator P. Ranganayakulu making a point at the DRC meeting in Anantapur on Thursday.

ANANTAPUR: Indiscriminate exploitation of sand from the river beds/rivulets and smuggling caused grave concern at the district review committee (DRC) meeting held here on Thursday. The district administration was told to take stringent measures to check smuggling of sand into the neighbouring Karnataka.

It was the first time wherein all the 14 legislators (MLAs), including two Ministers, four MLCs, two MPs and the ZP chairperson of the district attended the meeting held after a gap of about 22 months. Only two DRC meetings were held in the past- in January 2005 and March 2006- after the Congress government came to power in the State. The meeting was chaired by Minister for Housing Botcha Satyanarayana.

Hindupur legislator P. Ranganayakulu raised the issue of smuggling of sand and stated that about 200 lorry loads of sand was going to Bangalore every day from Hindupur region alone.

It was being carted from Gorantla area without any hurdle whatsoever. Uravakonda legislator P. Keshav said such an exploitation was not only harming the groundwater table but was also creating sand shortage for Indiramma housing.

“The sand traders were going to a depth of beyond 50 feet on the bed of Pennar river for mining at several places and this has been going on unabated with the collusion of village leaders of all parties”, Mr. Keshav stated.

Several other legislators also joined him seeking steps to halt the menace that is bound to have a negative impact on the ecology of the district.

Minister for Panchayat Raj J.C. Diwakar Reddy said the revenue and police departments were not acting appropriately to prevent smuggling of sand.

They needed to tighten the noose, he opined. District Collector N. Sridhar sought ten days time to contain the problem by setting up checkposts on different routes leading to Bangalore from the district.

Minister for Agriculture N. Raghuveera Reddy suggested confiscation of vehicles involved in smuggling .

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