Ex-Minister takes out padayatra against illegal sand transport

Veldurthi: Former Minister and Congress leader Sunitha Laxma Reddy on Wednesday took out a rally along with 1,500 farmers for 6 km long protesting illegal sand transportation from Haldi Vagu in Veldurthi mandal of Medak district.

The Congress leader alleged that sand had been transported illegally excavating from Haldi Vagu at Aregudem, Uppulingapur and Nellur Velduthi villages to Hyderabad in the garb of 2BHK houses construction by the some sand mafia by hundreds of tippers and tractors daily.

The farmers here got the stay order from the court barring the sand transportation without permission from the villages. But some the people are transporting the sand from Haldi river using the false way bills of 2BHK houses. Some TRS leaders are also involved in this sand mafia running here to make business in Hyderabad, alleged the Congress leader, who also conducted Vanta-Varpu on the road with the farmers and several Congress party activists.

Only 20 per cent of the sand from Haldi river is being used for government’s 2BHK project, but the remaining portion is being used for illegal business of ruling party leaders during night time by trucks and tractors, said the former Minister.

During its 40-year-long regime, Congress government took up several developmental works for and across the Haldi river, but never resorted to dig out the sand from it. But after Telangana is formed, illegal sand transported from everywhere, she alleged and demanded immediate stalling of sand transportation from the river.