A series of negative reports in the media over the alleged sand crisis in Andhra Pradesh, a series of agitations by the opposition parties and reports of suicides by some construction workers due to lack of work has terribly upset YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
On Tuesday, Jagan expressed serious displeasure over the failure of the officials and also YSRC party leaders for failing to project a correct picture on the sand crisis before the people.
He wondered why the media and the opposition parties were raising a hue and cry as if heavens have fallen.
The chief minister found fault with the officials for failing to tell the people that required quantity of sand could not be made available due to unprecedented rains and floods and that everything would improve in due course.
He sought to know why the party leaders could not explain to the people that the government had curtailed massive corruption in sand supply, which was rampant during the Telugu Desam Party regime.
“We should take pride in claiming that we have been able to get rid of the corruption from the sand mining,” Jagan said.
He called for a ‘sand weekend’ and instructed the officials to work on the sand issue for the next week. In the past, the system was run by grave corruption and now, the government is undoing the damage.
He instructed the officials to condemn all the false claims immediately.
“We have to let people know what is happening. We must condemn the accusations of repeated wrongdoings despite no mistake from our side,” Jagan said.
On the issue of construction workers, Jagan said that about 70 sand reaches have been identified at lakes and bunds during floods. He said the government was operating the sand supply manually creating work opportunities.
“Anyone can collect sand from local resources and carry it in one tractor up to 20 km informing Village Secretariat. Those who require work can get at sand reaches through the village secretariat,” he said.