The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided allowing utilisation of seized sand only for government construction projects.

The district collectors will be selecting the projects for utilisation of seized sand, according to Ms G. Aruna Kumari, Minister for Mines and Geology.

She said patta lands have been identified at 29 places for carrying out sand quarrying. These do not require environmental clearances. The AP Mineral Development Corporation will be carrying out the quarrying operations, which will provide employment to seven lakh people.

Apart from this, submerged areas have been identified at 31 places, with estimated sand reserves of 45 lakh cubic m. Also, the ground water department has identified 25 reaches suitable for sand quarrying, out of which permissions have been given to 15 projects.

The Minister said she will be meeting promoters of stone-crushing units on May 16 to discuss some of their long pending problems.