Telangana to identify 33 new sand reaches to tide over scarcity

HYDERABAD: As part of plan for ensuring sand availability next year, Telangana Mineral Development Corporation will identify new 33 sand reaches. Efforts are on to get environmental clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority for these reaches. These will be in addition to the 27 existing sand reaches in the state.
Dr Malsur, managing director of Telangana Mineral Development Corporation (TMDC) told TOI: “Existing sand reaches are in Medipally Barrage areas.Because of desiltation, we don’t know how much of the area will be available for the next year. Some 89 lakh cubic metres of sand will be available after these reaches become operational.” The new points are mostly located in Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts.

Environmental clearance with public hearing is required under the central environmental laws for marking new sand reaches. Clearance from the Centre is required if the sand reach is spread in area of less than 50 hectares. Environmental clearance is given at state level. Officials said that the process of public hearing and getting other clearances will take about four months.
In the existing 27 sand mining areas, about 50 lakh cubic metres of sand is available, which is extracted in summer season. The sand reach areas are in Bhupalpally, Sirsila, Jagtial and other districts. However, in the rainy season, sand gets deposited in other areas, while officials take up extraction in summer season. Unofficial estimates say that on a daily basis, about 30,000 cubic tonnes of sand is required in the state, of which Hyderabad consumes 70%. The rates of sand are slightly on the higher side currently.
It is currently being sold at Rs 1,700 per tonne as against earlier rate of around Rs 1,000. “At one point, the rates had even reached Rs 3,000 per tonne,” said officials.