District Collector Kona Sasidhar has mooted a web-based application —‘Mana Sand’ — to track its excavation, transportation and distribution.
Chairing the first district-level sand committee meeting here on Thursday, Mr. Sasidhar said that a new sand policy would be unveiled which would ensure real-time monitoring of supply. He suggested that GPS systems be installed in all the vehicles used for sand transportation and CCTV cameras at mining spots.
He said the State government had decided the price for sand with parameters like, excavation, loading and unloading charges, ramp maintenance charges and transportation charges based on the distance.
Task force
The Collector constituted a mandal-level task force comprising officials of the Revenue, Police and Panchayat Raj departments to implement the notified prices and punish the violators.
A district-level committee has also been constituted with the District Collector as the chairman and SPs, Deputy Transport Commissioner and AD Mines as members.
The Collector also directed the officials to ensure availability of sand in the by monitoring it on regular basis, identify the new reaches and obtain statutory clearances from the competent authorities. Sanction of permission for de-casting of sand from patta lands and identification of the areas for de-siltation purpose should be done periodically.
Violators warned
He also warned that stringent action would be taken on those violating norms on sand quarrying in reaches within 500 metres from bridges, culverts, ground water structures, drinking water borewells, irrigation structures, State and national highways, railway line etc., as per A.P. Water, Land And Tree (APWLAT) Rules and conditions.
People can complain to the toll-free number 1100 and 18004254099 on any irregularities on sand.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Ch. Venkata Appala Naidu said that check-posts had been set up with the Police, Revenue and Transport Department officials in the routes to other districts and States to curb illegal transportation of sand.
SP, Guntur Urban, Ch. Vijaya Rao, and JC Kritika Batra were present.
