Sand mining goes on unabated in Kurnool

Kurnool: Unauthorised sand excavation continues in Kurnool district despite 'preventive measures' by official machinery because the sand lobby enjoys support of powers that be. Panchalingala on the bank of river Tungabhadra sees the heightened quantity of sand being moved away, a resident of that village said, with at least 100 tractors passing daily with loads of sand. As per government records, there are 11 sand reaches in the district with 10 along the Tungabhadra river and one in Hagari River from Kurool, Kodumur, Mantralayam, Alur and Pathikonda assembly constituencies. Consistent sand policy needed Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samiti president Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy pooh-poohed the AP government decision to provide sand for construction free of cost to curb illegal sand mining and pilferage. Mechanised policy Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India former president Sekhar Reddy opined that machanised sand would bring down the cost and dependence of sand excavated from river beds.