The so-called free sand policy brought in by the Telugu Desam Party government in Andhra Pradesh led by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu government with effect from July 8 with a lot of hype has turned out to be big farce, at least in some districts.
According to the policy, people who require sand for construction of their houses will get from the reaches by paying only transportation and seigniorage charges.
Initially, the transactions were offline, but thereafter, the entire process was made online by paying the money using QR code.
But the local TDP leaders are making a mockery of the entire policy.
According to reports from several places, the TDP leaders have virtually captured the sand reaches and are mining sand and selling them in the market at high prices. They have formed syndicates to several districts to gain control over the sand reaches.
Though Naidu claimed that Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) and and Vigilance and Enforcement Department have been entrusted with the task to prevent reselling of sand and formation of syndicates, the TDP leaders are caring a damn for the same.
Sources said a newly-elected TDP leader from NTR district is virtually controlling the sand supply in the district, particularly at Nandigama stock point, where his followers are not allowing any individuals to take sand after paying required fee and transportation charges.
“Only the TDP leaders’ vehicles are allowed at the stock points and made the QR Code non-functional for other buyers. They are threatening the revenue and mining department authorities, if they tried to resist the TDP leaders,” sources said.
While each person is entitled to get only 20 tonnes of sand as per the rules, the TDP leaders are filling up double the quantity in their trucks. The authorities are forced to keep silent, sources said.
The other day, this TDP leader, who happens to be the brother a former MP, got as many as 80 trucks stopped and did not allow them to take sand, unless they pay him the commission. The buyers registered strong protest and tried to resist, but the TDP leader’s followers hounded them away.
The buyers reportedly approached the police, but the latter expressed helplessness. They had no other option but to surrender to the TDP leaders, sources said.
Interestingly, not a single media reporter, including the ones from Sakshi media house, did not report this incident.
“Apparently, this TDP leader has bribed all the reporters in the area, including those from Sakshi,” sources added.
