Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the sand management portal at the Velagapudi secretariat on Thursday evening. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister told the officials to make available the sand booking process round the clock.
Chandrababu Naidu held a video conference with the officials of the mines department and the district collectors. He told the district collectors to ensure that sand is not diverted or smuggled. He also told them to ensure that the transporters charged the reasonable price from those who book sand.
He told the officials to solve the online booking problems in the portal on regular basis. The portal should be user-friendly, he told them. He also wanted them to have flying squads formed at the district level to see that sand is not diverted.
People living by the side of rivulets and streams should be allowed to take sand free of cost. Those using bullock carts also to be allowed to transport sand free of cost, he said.
Minister for mines, Kollu Ravindra told media persons that every detail of the sand would be available for the people to check online. More transparency would be maintained in sand supply, the minister said. He said that the government had made arrangements to ensure that the transporters and truck operators do not charge more from the people.
The government would also establish more check posts across the state to keep an eye on the sand transportation, the Minister said. The government would also get feedback from those who take sand. The sand availability would be reflected in the online portal, the minister said.
