Naidu asks officials to be tough in curbing sand mafia

Expressing displeasure over the attitude of officials in curbing sand mafia in the state, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today asserted that there cannot be any compromise on monitoring sand mining in the state.
"The Chief Minister expressed dissatisfaction over lackadaisical attitude of officials in monitoring sand mining operations. Despite the state government framing a sand policy, officials have not been efficient in curbing sand mafia, he remarked," a state government release said here today.
Naidu, who held a review on sand mining, asked the officials to ensure that operations are carried out efficiently and smoothly.
The TDP government had announced a policy of entrusting sand mining to self-help groups to check the activities of sand mafia in the state.

Suggesting that officials should be vigilant about sand mafia's operations, the chief minister told them that the profits should reach self-help group women or the Farmers' Empowerment Corporation. "There can be no compromise on monitoring operations," he said.
Naidu suggested that sand mining could be carried out even at small reaches or sites. This step, he said, would help us in bringing down the cost of sand as it would increase the availability of sand, according to the release.

Questioning officials about the escalating maintenance costs, the chief minister asked them to submit a report to him on the costs (starting from sand mining at the reach to selling it to the end user).

Naidu asked officials to study feasibility of building check-dams, which will increase siltation, eventually increasing sand deposits.
Affirming that customers are the priority, chief minister said that sand should reach customers within 48 hours of placing the order.
He also directed officials to keep a tab on bulk orders to check whether the sand mafia is using this route to procure sand, the release added.