*Free sand is a scam, coalition running organised sand loot*

Nellore, Jan 27: YSRCP Nellore district president and former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy exposed the coalition government’s much-publicised “free sand” policy as a complete fraud, stating that it has become a cover for large-scale illegal mining and organised plunder of natural resources by ruling party leaders. Addressing the media at the YSRCP district office in Nellore, he said sand is being sold at more than five times the government-fixed price, while coalition MLAs are minting over Rs.3 crore per month from each sand reach. He presented photographic evidence of midnight and early-morning illegal mining at the Virivuru and Surayapalem reaches, showing sand excavation up to 10 metres deep in the Penna river using heavy machinery in open violation of rules, NGT directions, and environmental safeguards.

He said that under the YSRCP government, regulated sand tenders generated nearly Rs.700 crore annually, totalling about Rs.3,500 crore over five years for the exchequer, whereas under the coalition the entire revenue is being siphoned off by political networks in the name of “free sand.” He stated that collections are being made through QR codes routed to private bank accounts, while buyers are given handwritten slips instead of official permits. Tractors that should be charged under Rs.300 are being forced to pay around Rs.1,250, while tippers and lorries that should pay between Rs.1,400 and Rs.2,000 are being charged anywhere from Rs.8,000 to Rs.15,000.

Kakani accused ruling party leaders of constructing roads inside the riverbed to enable round-the-clock mining, blocking irrigation canals, destroying the Penna river ecosystem, and creating deadly pits that have already claimed innocent lives. He said those questioning the sand mafia are being threatened or attacked, while police act as mute spectators, even seeking ministerial permission instead of enforcing the law. Stating that ministerial audio evidence exists showing smugglers being informally guided rather than stopped, he demanded that illegal sand mining be halted immediately and those responsible arrested. He said if the Chief Minister has any sincerity, the culprits must be brought before the public in handcuffs, warning that the ongoing sand plunder is bleeding state revenues, destroying the environment, and fully exposing the coalition’s “free sand” slogan as a massive organised scam.