Hans News Service Rampachodavaram

Sandreaches and metal quarries in Polavaram district should be permitted only after obtaining resolutions from the respective tribal villages, Polavaram District Collector K Dinesh Kumar directed the officials concerned on Thursday. He held a meeting with mining officials, Pollution Control Board authorities and metal quarry owners at the ITDA office meeting hall. Joint Collector Surapati Prashanth Kumar and OSD Javali were also present. The Collector said the government had identified eight sand reaches in the district, including three at Gommukoyagudem, two at Gundala, two at Kannaiahgudem and one at Rayannapeta. He directed the Mining, Police and Revenue departments to jointly inspect the reaches and submit a report before permissions were issued based on resolutions passed by the respective village panchayats.

He said the available sand deposits should be assessed and made available to the public in accordance with government rules. Sand extraction should be restricted to permitted limits and all environmental norms and guidelines must be followed.

He also directed officials to conduct auctions among tribal residents of the concerned villages for allotment of sand reaches and obtain necessary no-objection certificates.

He said APGENCO requires around 10,000 metric tonnes of sand and was currently sourcing it from Rajahmundry, resulting in higher transportation costs.

Steps would be taken to supply sand to APGENCO from reaches in the Polavaram region, he said. District Mining Officer Krishnamurthy and Transport Officer Rajesh Kumar participated.