Guntur: The construction industry is facing a crisis due to the shortage of supply of sand as a result of association of contractors arena.
Police and revenues have begun cracking down on illegal excavation of sand. Therefore, the sand mafia squeezed the supply of sand to tackle the worrying situation finally the public sector and construction.
The Guntur administration has decided to deliver the sand comes to women SHGs to curb sand mafia and especially punish decided Undavalli Rayapudi and sand reaches SHG.
The price of sand was increased to Rs 15,000 per truck from earlier Rs 4500 which is forcing the public to pay more money in construction. The construction activity is restarted after the announcement of the new capital and largest selection of Guntur as smart city.
Subramaneswara G. Rao, self-built house in Guntur, regretted that he planned to complete the construction of Rs 15 lakh. But now he is forced to pay nearly Rs 2 lakh additional due to the increase in the price of sand. The acceleration of construction activity increased demand for sand sand andhence union is charging high price based on distance.
Builders Association President G. Welfare Tirupati Rao said the government has decided to Rs 2750 for six cubic meters of sand and it would cost Rs 5500-6000 rupees including transportation, but contractors are collecting Rs 14,000 according to Rs15,000 demand. He lamented that the cost of apartments this high price is further increased, finally putting additional burden on the public. He regretted that several times BWA took the high price issue to the attention of the highest officials including district collector, but no use.
`The government is gaining 7.5 million rupees a year of income through the sand reaches in the district and officials hope to double revenues if sand ranges are given to SHGs.