Government revises sand policy

Vijayawada: Consumers, who want to get sand free of cost for the construction of houses from the sand reaches, have to pay expenses for excavation, loading and transportation. Consumers can apply online for sand and can get delivery at the construction sites on payment of price and submission of Aadhaar and biometric details.

Highlights:

• Consumers can get sand online
• They should pay nominal price as the government changed the free sand policy
• Sand price fixed by district-level committee headed by Collector
• Two sand reaches picked up for pilot project in Krishna district to supply sand by trucks and tractors

This new system will be beneficial to consumers who are constructing the houses or shops. The state government has revised the free sand policy and now decided to collect nominal charges for excavation, loading and unloading.

The state government has been implementing free sand policy since March 2016. But, the free sand policy has been grossly exploited by sand mafia, who had been selling the sand at exorbitant prices.

Each truck of sand is being sold between Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000 depending on the supply and demand. To check the misuse of the free sand government policy, the government has decided to collect nominal charges for supply of sand to the consumers, said Joint Collector Gandham Chandrudu on Wednesday.

As per the revised government policy, the consumers can pay online to the government to get the sand. The district-level committee headed by District Collector B Lakshmikantham had finalised the prices for supply of sand to the consumers in the district.

The government is implementing two types of categories. The first category is sand desiltation from private persons who obtained permission for excavation. The second category is open sand reach, which is maintained by the government, the department of mines and Geology. Consumers can get sand from these two types of sand reaches.

In Krishna district, initially two sand reaches have been selected on a pilot basis to supply sand to the consumers. If the consumer wants to get sand from desiltation areas he has to pay Rs 1,040 for each tractor (one unit) up to five km, Rs 1,200 between five km and Rs 30 extra for each km distance. Distance is measured from sand reach to the destination point prescribed by the consumer.

The consumers have to pay online fee to the government. Aadhaar number, biometric and mobile number shall be made mandatory for sand booking. The district administration will deliver the sand to the consumer at the destination points which is mentioned by the consumer.

Minimum vehicles should be not exceed 10 units/ five lorries by giving Aadhaar number and biometric information. If excess sand is required beyond 10 units, the consumer has to submit approved plan copy of the building.

If the consumer has to get sand from open sand reach areas, the price is Rs 890 for one tractor sand (one unit) up to five km and Rs 1,100 per unit between five to 10 km. He has to pay additional charges of Rs 30 for each km. For each lorry/tipper (two units) sand, he has to pay Rs 2,000 for up to five km to 10 km and additional of Rs 85 for each km.

The state government is losing revenue of over Rs 700 crore a year due to free sand policy. But, due to sand exploitation made by sand mafia, the government revised the policy and decided to supply sand to the consumer by collecting price, which was prescribed by the district administration after consultations with the stake holders including realtors, lorry owners, contractors and others, said Joint Collector Gandham Chandrudu.

By Md AMEEN