In a recent press conference in Nellore, Kakani Govardhan Reddy, the former minister and president of the YSR Congress Party in Nellore district, expressed his outrage over the Andhra Pradesh government’s free sand scheme, labeling it a major scam. He accused the ruling coalition led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of exploiting natural resources under the guise of providing free sand, effectively lining their pockets at the expense of the public.
Speaking at the party’s district office, Kakani highlighted that local legislators were charging prices more than five times the government-sanctioned rates, with monthly earnings from sand mining allegedly exceeding ₹3 crores from each sand reach. He claimed that after a thorough examination of the Surayapalem sand reach, it was clear that legislators were involved in extensive illegal sand mining operations.
During the press meet, Kakani displayed photographs showcasing sand mining activities during the early hours and at midnight, which he stated violated regulations. He detailed how the proceeds from sand sales were being siphoned off through QR codes, questioning the integrity of the Chief Minister. He demanded that if Naidu truly cared about the environment, he should take stringent actions against those endangering natural resources.
Kakani expressed his frustration over police officers seeking permission from ministers before arresting those involved in illegal sand mining. He pointed out the troubling trend of police obstructing efforts to expose the coalition’s corrupt practices, suggesting that local authorities were complicit in the illegal operations.
He further elaborated on the devastating impact of illegal sand mining on the Penna River, accusing ruling party leaders of exploiting natural resources while the river suffered from excessive dredging. Kakani claimed that local legislators were constructing roads within the riverbed and transporting sand using heavy machinery, with mining activities occurring day and night.
The former minister revealed that despite government regulations limiting sand mining to specific hours, operations continued unabated with excavators. He presented alarming statistics showing that while the government had set a price of ₹68 per ton for sand, local operators were charging up to ₹1,250, with similar markups for different vehicle types.
Kakani’s accusations extended to police protection for sand thieves, alleging that anyone questioning these illegal activities faced violent reprisals. He claimed that the coalition leaders openly admitted to paying bribes to law enforcement, further complicating the issue of accountability.
In a scathing critique, Kakani demanded that if the Chief Minister had any real commitment to ethics, he should ensure that those involved in the sand mining scam were publicly shamed and punished. He questioned the role of authorities who seemed indifferent to the dangers posed by illegal sand mining, where innocent lives were often at risk due to the negligence of officials.
As the allegations surrounding the free sand scheme unfold, the YSR Congress Party continues to challenge the actions of the ruling coalition, calling for transparency and accountability in resource management to protect the environment and the public’s interests.
