MLA urges government to crackdown on sand mafia in Parvatipuram-Manyam district

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Parvatipuram TDP MLA Bonela Vijaya Chandra on Thursday urged Collector N. Prabhakar Reddy and Mines Department officials to curb the sand mafia in Parvatipuram-Manyam district. He alleged that many people were being forced to pay large sums to the mafia to get sand despite the government’s free sand policy two years ago to help common people build houses in an hassle-free manner.

Speaking to media, Mr. Vijaya Chandra said that he had received multiple complaints from residents of Parvatipuram town and mandal over the last few days. He alleged that one person named Rompilli Prasada Rao of M.R. Puram village in Parvatipuram mandal was not allowed to fetch sand from Gummada village of Komarada mandal due to the intervention of local influential persons and a local police official.

“Fearing seizure of his tractor, Mr. Prasada Rao was allegedly forced to pay ₹13,000 bribe to the local mafia. This is highly unacceptable. Officials are unable to take action against the sand mafia despite the issue being raised at the District Development Review Committee meeting held recently under the supervision of Minister for Agriculture K.Atchannaidu,” Mr. Vijaya Chandra said.

He said that the issue would be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu and Minister for Mines Kollu Ravindra and senior officials of the department for the effective implementation of the government’s sand policy.

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