To overcome shortage of sand being faced by builders in monsoon season, the NTR district administration in Andhra Pradesh stored 7.5-lakh cubic meters of sand in NTR District. Last year, a sand reach had to be closed down for three months as the floods experienced in August washed away 132 trucks and a crane. This led to an artificial shortage of sand in the market. At this juncture, the sand mafia ruled the roost selling a cubic meter of sand at Rs 1200. As a result, many builders suspended construction activity throwing 25,000 construction workers out of job.
As the district experienced floods again this year, the district machinery took measures to rein in the sand mafia. The officials opened sand stock points at several places. The mining department has been monitoring the sand supply with JP Mining Company. The district officials made it clear that there was no shortage of sand in the district as the government maintaining huge quantities of sand stocks. As the government is selling the sand at a price fixed by it, there is no need for the builders to worry about it, officials assure the builders. They warn sand mafia of stern action if artificial shortage of sand is created.
