Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting on Roads and Buildings on Monday, November 4. He spoke about the sand shortage Issue in the state and said that the sand scarcity was a temporary phase and will pass out soon after the floods recede and lambasted TDP for encouraging sand mafia for the past five years.

AP Chief Minister made it clear that sand shortage was temporary and it will be resolved once the floods are subsided. “The gates of Prakasam barrage have been lifted for days now and water has been flowing even now. It is good for farmers, crops and also groundwater also will be increased. Sand will be available to meet the demand.”

YS Jagan added that during the past five years, the former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababau Naidu led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government has allowed sand mafia which was drawing sand mechanically and indiscriminately, while YSRC Congress Party allowing only manual mining which makes a lot of difference, he said. The guidelines of the new sand policy are designed to benefit poor people of the state.

YSRCP president said that for the past five years, it has been just for namesake that sand is free, while the previous government was running a sand mafia. We have designed a new sand policy which is transparent and corruption-free.’

YS Jagan bring to the notice of AP people that the flood was not subsided for the last 90 days and only 61 out of 265 reaches are operational due to floods. “It has become difficult for trucks and tractors to transport sand at flooding areas. An additional transportation charge, fixed at Rs 4.90 per kilometre on an average, will also be levied and the supply of the sand will be increased after the floods subsidised” he said.