Sand mafia extorting bribes despite government's free sand policy for builders

Parvatipuram TDP MLA Bonela Vijaya Chandra on Thursday pressed Collector N. Prabhakar Reddy and Mines Department officials to dismantle sand extraction rackets operating in Parvatipuram-Manyam district despite a two-year-old government policy offering free sand to house builders.

Resident forced to pay ₹13,000 bribe

The legislator told media that residents from Parvatipuram town and mandal had lodged multiple complaints over recent days. He cited the case of Rompilli Prasada Rao from M.R. Puram village in Parvatipuram mandal, who was blocked from collecting sand at Gummada village in Komarada mandal by local influential figures and a police official. Fearing his tractor would be seized, Prasada Rao was compelled to hand over ₹13,000 to the mafia, the MLA alleged.

Issue raised at district review meeting

Vijaya Chandra said the sand mafia continues to extort large payments from people trying to access sand under the free sand policy the government introduced two years ago to enable hassle-free house construction. He expressed frustration that officials have failed to act against the rackets even though the matter was flagged at a recent District Development Review Committee meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu.

"This is highly unacceptable," the MLA said. He announced plans to escalate the issue to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Mines Minister Kollu Ravindra and senior departmental officials to secure proper enforcement of the government's sand policy.

Source: The Hindu