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Sand mafia ruling roost in Srikakulam
Srikakulam: Sand mafia is ruling the roost in the district with the officials turning a blind eye to the menace while the politicians are happy with their cut in the pie.If any official dares to catch a lorry or tractor that is smuggling sand, a phone call would go to the Minister, who in turn takes care of that official.
Srikakulam: Sand mafia is ruling the roost in the district with the officials turning a blind eye to the menace while the politicians are happy with their cut in the pie.
If any official dares to catch a lorry or tractor that is smuggling sand, a phone call would go to the Minister, who in turn takes care of that official.
The banks of Nagavali and Vamsadhara are replete with the scenes of hundreds of tractors bringing sand and storing on the roadside of the national highway.
They transport the sand to various destinations during daylight if there is no problem. However, during the night, there would be hundreds of lorries lie in queue to transport sand.
Chavvakulapet, Pedasavalapuram, Yaragam, Tamaram and Gara are some of the recognised sand reaches marked by the government.
Collecting sand from elsewhere is a crime. However, this is applicable only to lesser mortals. The influential persons could do whatever they want.
However, the sand smuggling is not limited to these areas. Ragolu, Singupuram near Sriakakulam town, Sarubujjili, Karajada, near Amudalavalasa, Narasannapet, Mabugam, Gopalapenta, Palakonda Road and a score of other areas are the centres for sand smuggling.
The local leaders are virtually owners of these sand reaches.
Tractor load of sand is sold for Rs 600. A big truck carries five tractor loads. The sand transporters say that they are paying Rs 2,000 to officials.
Each lorry load of sand is sold for Rs 10,000 making a clean profit of one hundred per cent. It is said that they are selling two hundred lorry loads of sand every day.
In essence the transporters are making Rs 10 lakh a day.
The mining officials say that they have no adequate staff to check sand smuggling.
MRO Appala Naidu said that the revenue department is no way concerned with the issue. Recently, Minister Atchannaidu organised a meeting with the officials of various departments and issued instructions to stop sand smuggling.
Superintendent of Police Brahma Reddy swung into action and seized 30 lorries by evening. However, the police were bombarded from various quarters and were compelled to let go the lorries.
