FREE SAND POLICY OF AP GOVERNMENT – GROUND REALITIES Sand policy of AP: In 2016 TDP Government brought out a very innovative free sand policy with an objective to promote housing, wage employment to local people, to encourage sand transport through tractors. The outline of policy is as under: Free sand quarries in identified and approved sites have to be under control of mandal steering committee consisting of Tahsildar, Sub Inspector of Police and Mandal Development Officer. The boundaries of excavation site shall be fixed and flagged with clear markings and revenue staff are to present to oversee the operations.   Tahsildhar is authorized to utilize NREGS funds to create temporary road in river till regular road point and collect Rs.30/tractor and Rs.60/Lorry to recover the cost of the road and maintenance of road including watering at regular intervals. The sand permit is to be prominently displayed in Tahsildhar of...

ILLEGAL SAND MINING-- WHEN I COULD CRACK IT, WHY NOT YOU? Potti Dibba  Lanka: Pottidibba Lanka is a small lush green island in Krishna River about 25 Kms downstream of Vijayawada, falls in Totlavalluru mandal of Krishna Dist, AP. The island, which is about 2500 acres fifty years ago, is now reduced to little over 1500 acres and the balance merged in river due to erosion during floods. The soils are very fertile with silt content coupled with abundant water resources and known for cultivation of turmeric, banana, sugarcane, maize, yam, vegetables and area is lush green even in peak summer months.  Though the island falls in Krishna dist, most of the land is owned by farmers from Kollipara village in Guntur Dist, which is about 3 kms from island. I too from Kollipara, but live in Hyderabad and technically a farmer from this picturesque island. This island lands are covered in three villages – Totlavalluru, Chagantipadu & Devarpalli. In Pottidibba Lanka, there is a...