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...

SAVE LANDS FROM SAND SHARKS- FARMERS STRUGGLE CONTINUES -BBC Reporting from Amaravathi Potti Dibba Lanka: Pottidibba Lanka, Devarpalli Village, Totlavalluru Mandal, Krishna District is an island in Krishna river downstream of Vijayawada, gifted with ample fresh water and rich alluvial soils. Even in peak summer months, the entire area is lush green with standing crops. The farmers are very enterprising and they even grow four crops in a year.   There is a habitation of about 60 families residing in this island. The original area of island was over 2500 acres of patta lands. With torrential rains and floods, about 1000 acres was eroded and became part of the river. The last such major flood was in 2009, left many farmers landless overnight. Farmers still pay taxes and possess titles on these lands, very much became part of river with the hope of silt formation over the years and the lands become cultivable. In fact, in last two years about 100 acres land became part...