Construction workers across the city are on warpath demanding the state government to streamline the sand supply. Builders and labourers have accused the new sand policy, which came into existence on September 4, of failing to serve its purpose.Building workers union along with Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) is also gearing up to stage a protest at dharna chowk demanding the government to supply sand at a cheaper price.
“Sand has become a costly thing in Vijayawada. The high prices have resulted in construction works stalled across the city while lakhs of construction workers have lost their livelihood and still, the government is confined to making statements. We will intensify our protests if the government fails to streamline sand supply in a week,” said P Madhavan, secretary of Building workers union.
He has demanded the government to give Rs 10,000 honorarium to the building workers for the lost livelihood due to sand shortage.
YSR Congress-led state government brought the new sand policy on September 4 to curb illegal sand mining activity across Andhra Pradesh. The state government said it would supply sand at a cheaper price than earlier government and fixed cost at Rs 375 per tonne.
However, builders have complained that the cost has shot up multiple times since the implementation of the new policy.
“Earlier government implemented free sand policy and we paid around Rs 2,500 for a truck full of the sand load to Gollapudi in the city. But now we have to pay Rs 11,000 for the same quantity of sand now,” K Raja Mohan a city-based builder said.
However, mining minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy asserted that they have identified 41 lakh cubic meters sand across the state will soon start supply after flood levels recede from the rivers.
