The Andhra Pradesh Government has set up a Group of Minister (GoM) to review the sand mining policy, with the Principal Secretary to the Government (Mines), Industries and Commerce Department, as its Convener.

Ministers of Mines and Geology; Major and Medium Irrigation; Finance and Planning; Forests and Environment; Minor Irrigation and Panchayat Raj; and Rural Water Supply will be the members in the GoM.

The Government issued an order on Saturday in this regard. It mandated the GoM to submit a report in a week.

and mining in the State had been hit following strictures by the High Court and Supreme Court. While refusing to vacate the stay on mining in the State, the apex court had asked the State to approach the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to get clearances, conforming to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) standards. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had taken a serious view of the sand mining, acting on a public interest litigation filed in March this year, and issued a stay order on sand mining.

This had resulted in serious shortage of sand for construction activity. The builders had represented to the State Government to find a way out of the situation.

The State Government had decided to amend the sand mining policy according to the recommendations of a committee appointed by it.

>kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

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