The Andhra Pradesh state government is planning to launch online booking for sand from September 19. The officials have already prepared the portal and other logistics for the online booking.
Though the online booking was to be launched on September 11 initially, it was postponed due to floods in Vijayawada. Minister for excise and mines, Kollu Ravindra, principal secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena and director Praveen Kumar were busy with the flood relief work. They could not complete the online work for the sand forcing the department to postpone the launching date.
The state cabinet is scheduled to meet on September 18. The cabinet is likely to discuss the sand supply at the meeting. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is serious on giving free sand to the people. The government would only charge the transportation expenses. These expenses too will be fixed by the government in every district, based on the distance of the transportation.
The State Mines officials have alerted the officials in every district and asked them to get ready for the launch of the online booking from September 19. The district collectors were also asked to constitute taskforce teams in every district to monitor the supply of sand to the people. They would also see if the sand is being diverted or sold at the higher prices. They would book cases against those who misuse the free sand.
The district collectors were asked to take the officials from the revenue, police, excise, water resources, and mines departments into the taskforce. Every district collector would constitute these committees under their chairmanship. The district collectors would monitor the functioning of these committees in their respective districts.
The cabinet is likely to take a call on the free sand supply in the state at the September 18 meeting. The cabinet would also decide on the transportation charges in every district.
