CM Revanth sets 48-hour deadline to halt illegal sand mining, proposes new policy

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced that the State Government would formulate a new sand policy to curb the rampant illegal sand transportation, irregularities, and corruption occurring at all levels.

In a high-level meeting with officials from the Department of Mines and Mineral Resources at Dr BR Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat on Thursday, Revanth Reddy emphasised that the new policy should be formulated to meet the needs of the people while also generating revenue for the government. He urged officials to study successful sand policies implemented in other states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

The Chief Minister set a 48-hour deadline for all officials to end illegal practices in sand mining and sales. After two days, he stated that Vigilance and ACB teams should be deployed to carry out inspections in all districts. He sternly warned that no one responsible would go scot-free, and strict action would be taken against those involved in the illegal sand trade.

CM Revanth Reddy also directed officials to prepare a report on the illegal transportation of sand by lorries based on data recorded at toll gates on all routes. He emphasised that, besides imposing fines, strict action would be initiated against individuals if any irregularities were found.

While referring to his visit to Tanugula Sand Quarry in the Maneru River during his padayatra in Jammikunta in Karimnagar in March last year, the Chief Minister contradicted the officials' claim of CCTV installations at all sand reaches.

CM Revanth Reddy said that surprise inspections were conducted in Nizamabad and Warangal with the transport department on February 3. Out of 83 sand lorries checked, 22 were found to be unauthorized. Additionally, four to five lorries were transporting sand with the same permit and number. The surprise inspection revealed that 25 per cent of the sand was being moved illegally. The CM said that the was a need to halt irregularities at the centre of TSMDC and reform the entire Mines department.

Further actions outlined by Revanth Reddy included the seizure of stone crushers operating without permission around Hyderabad and measures to create awareness among the public to prevent laying gravel and building materials on roads during the construction of large complexes.

The Chief Minister directed the Mineral Resources Department to collect taxes as per rules if excavations for cellars were carried out underground at a depth of more than six metres. He proposed developing an integrated online system to collect details of such buildings, with the Mines and Geology Department visiting locations to issue permissions for construction.

The Chief Minister suggested using geo-tagging and GPRS to prevent illegal granite and mineral mining and smuggling. He instructed officials to prepare a detailed report on pending cases related to granite and other quarries and the status of the cases before the agencies.

Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Tummala Nageswara Rao, Government Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Mines and Principal Secretary Mahesh Dutt Ekka, Mining Department Director Sushil Kumar, and other officials participated.