Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said a new sand mining policy would be brought into force from January 1, 2016.
Naidu released a white paper on sand mining at a media conference on Thursday.
Credit Rating agency CRISIL was hired to study and submit a report on the existing sand mining policy of AP and has also made some recommendations, the chief minister said.
Naidu apprised that based on the recommendations, a cabinet sub-committee would be constituted with three ministers.
The government had promised to hand over sand mines in the state to 'Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas' groups (self-help groups) and fulfilling the promise, it has handed over all 368 sand mines to DWACRA groups with 25 per cent share of the annual revenue for operations and maintenance of the mines, Naidu said.
He said under the existing policy, the total revenue stood at Rs 517 crore in the last 16 months. But, the government has also received complaint from public regarding delayed and improper supply of sand.
Naidu said in order to check existing loopholes in the system, government has decided to bring the new policy.
