HYDERABAD: With the activities of sand mafia rocking the state in the recent times, there is now a move to bring in reforms in the policy of auction of sand reaches in the state. Foremost among them is amending the rules to set specific quantity limit for sand to be quarried after it is auctioned. Simultaneously, the government wants to strengthen the enforcement mechanism in all districts.
Says mines and geology minister Galla Aruna Kumari: "We want to amend the AP Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 1966, to curb illegal sand mining."Already task force teams comprising officials from the revenue, police, panchayat raj, transport, roads and buildings, municipal and irrigation departments are working in districts. They have enough number of vehicles at their disposal. "We have asked the collectors to ask the task forces to deal with illegal sand mining," the minister says, adding she has sought clearance from the chief minister for recruitment of 1,500 more staff in the mines department.
This apart, there will be emphasis on promotion of use of rock sand in construction. The riverbed sand should be used for government and domestic use. "We are contemplating encouraging manufacturers of rock sand since it is a better substitute for regular sand. This also will ease pressure on conventional sand which, if allowed to be depleted, will affect adversely the levels of ground water tables," director of mines and geology BRV Susheel Kumar says.To address this problem, the minister says, a new rule will be imposed making it mandatory for the bidders to provide bank guarantee for the upset price at the time of filing bids, certificate of VAT registration and copies of income tax returns.Sand reaches in Chittoor, Kadapa, Nalgonda, Medak, Nizamabad, Mahaboobnagar, Rangareddy, Anantapur and Warangal districts have not been auctioned since the ground water department has not given clearance. Only revenue officials are allowed to quarry small quantities of sand for government schemes, she says.
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