No sand policy in place in Vijayawada

Sand traders in the city make a fortune while the government is yet to notify the new sand policy. They are hoarding sand and selling it at exorbitant prices. The sand is being procured by the dealers after colluding with people having approved house plans. Following orders from the state government, Krishna district administration had closed all sand reaches in the district except four. The sand reaches were allocated to companies doing infra works. To help private individuals building houses etc, district collector Mohammed Imtiaz has been issuing permission to those who have approved plans from local bodies or the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). Sand traders are targeting those who are in possession of approved plans but have not started works. The traders are paying these people and using their permissions to procure sand. Sand prices have seen a nearly five-fold increase since the free sand policy has been scrapped. A truck load of sand used to cost Rs 2,500 in Vijayawada. Now it has gone up to Rs 12,000 in the market.