CM directs officials to take steps to curb illegal sand mining  

State government cracks down on illegal sand mining to protect revenue, with strict enforcement measures in place.

The State government has focussed attention on curbing illegal sand mining that is causing a dent in the revenue receipts of the State.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed the officials concerned to curb illegal sand mining with an iron fist. The district collectors and superintendents of police were instructed to inspect sand reaches from time to time. Vigilance and enforcement agencies on their part should conduct raids to check overloading and unauthorised transportation of sand to ensure that there was no adverse impact on the State revenues due to illegal sand mining.

Mines & Geology department principal secretary (full additional charge) N. Sridhar said that instructions had been issued to the officials concerned to curb illegal excavation of sand as also measures that should be taken to monitor sand reaches, stockyards and illegal transportation of sand. The district collectors/superintendents of police were given User ID and password of respective sand reaches and stockyards enabling them to deploy officers and staff from the Revenue and Police departments.

The time for booking sand had been relaxed and consumers could book sand online between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sand contractors on their part had been directed to increase sand quantity from the reach to stockyard and were asked to double/triple the quantity within stipulated time.

The entry and exit at the sand reach would be through a single route and contractors had been asked to cooperate with the government in ensuring that revenue through sand was doubled during the financial year 2025-26. The contractors were also warned against any deviations from the stipulations as it could lead to cancellation of agreement signed with them and blacklisting them.

They should take adequate care to see that there was no overload in their lorries so as to avoid punishments like filing of criminal cases and seizure of their vehicles. According to him, the department checked 1,222 vehicles between February 1 and 12 and registered cases against 136 vehicles. As many as 111 vehicles were seized and driving licences of 21 persons were suspended while fine to the tune of ₹14.28 lakh was collected.