Sand Hoarding Will Attract Penal Action : Perni Nani

AMARAVATI: Stringent action will be taken against those hoarding sand which includes fine and penal action while 84 village courts would be set up.

Speaking to media after the cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, Information Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) said the Cabinet has decided to take stringent action against sand hoarding. A fine of Rs 2 lakh and two-year imprisonment would be imposed for hoarding sand.

Sand Week would begin from November 14 to improve the availability of sand in the state and to make two lakh tonnes of sand available every day.

The Cabinet has decided to set up Andhra Pradesh Environment Management Corporation to curb pollution and to declare 2,000 of the 9,000 industries in the red category in the state.

The minister said that the Cabinet has unanimously endorsed the Chief Minister’s decision to introduce English medium at the primary level in the government school from next year and to include Telugu or Urdu as a compulsory subject in the curricula. English medium would be introduced in the remaining classes year after year.

It was decided to increase the ex gratia to the families of fishermen who died in harness from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 Lakh. This decision would come into force from November 21 to mark World Fisherman Day as part of YSR Matsyakara Bharosa programme.

The Cabinet has also decided to regularize unauthorized layouts to help lower and middle class families.

The minister said that for the establishment of 84 village courts in the state, the government will amend the Village Courts Act-2008 besides the Andhra Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund Act. The cabinet approved to grant additional posts that include a director and three DFO ranked Assistant Director posts in the Home department.

He said that the Cabinet has taken the decision to approve the appointment of Trust Board members in eight temples in the state. The Cabinet approved for to amend Andhra Pradesh Municipal Law Act.

Talking about the MSP for maize, he said that the price of one quintal maize has been dropped from Rs 2200 to Rs 1500 in a week. To prevent farmers from the loss, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has ordered to establish purchase centres and purchase maize through the marketing.

Also Read: AP Cabinet Meeting: MSP To Corn/Maize Farmers