Govt to initiate Stringent Action against Illegal Sand transport: Minister Balineni

Ongole: The energy, forests, environment, science and technology Balineni Srinivasa Reddy announced that the government will initiate stringent action on the people involved in the illegal transport of sand, even though they are MLAs or former MLAs or any leader of the YSR Congress Party, to help the owners of construction pending buildings.

The minister spoke to the press at his residence in Ongole on Thursday afternoon and thrashed the allegations that his son, Praneeth Reddy is involved in the illegal sand mining and transporting at Vetapalem in Prakasam district. He said that he complained to the district SP to take action on the people spreading false information on social media against him and his family members.

Responding to the question why the government is silent on the transport of sand from Vetapalem to other districts and Telangana by the locals sand mafia, he announced that he has also ordered the SP, mining assistant director and vigilance officials to seize all vehicles transporting sand to other districts and bookcases against the owners of the vehicles and people behind them. He said that due to the incessant rains for the last few days, it is not possible for mining of sand and a scarcity occurred in the construction field. He said that the situation will come into control within a week and the pending constructions would be completed without any issue.

Regarding other issues, the minister said that due to the huge difference in the unit price of electricity agreed to pay in the power purchase agreement to the presently available price, the government is committed to reviewing them. He questioned that when the BJP ruling Uttar Pradesh government is able to cancel the PPAs, why can't the Andhra Pradesh government. He said that the government has allocated Rs 1700 crores to adjust power to supply 24 hours in a day and the farmers would also get power 9 hours continuously in day time soon. He also said that wind and solar power are not dependable always.

He said that the government has allowed accepting only 21 per cent of the total demand from the wind and solar power companies and the state is depending on the thermal power stations to meet the remaining demand of electricity.

He said that the earlier government announced to build 16000 houses for poor in the district as in G+3 apartment model and nearly 5000 flats of them started construction and already allotted to the beneficiaries. He said that after reviewing the situation, the government is decided to provide housing plots to all other housing beneficiaries, about 10000 in Prakasam district, by purchasing land if necessary. He said that orders are issued to the concerned officials and the distribution of plots will be done on Ugadi.