BRS alleges sand revenue discrepancies under Congress rule

The BRS accused the Telangana government of misrepresenting sand mining revenue, alleging price hikes, increased charges and lack of transparency, while demanding clarification and release of complete data to address concerns over possible irregularities.

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Friday accused the Congress government in Telangana of misrepresenting sand mining revenue data, alleging sharp price hikes and lack of transparency despite policy changes.

The party condemned the misleading and distorted figures released by the Congress government, and demanded clarification from the Chief Minister’s Office.

---

BRS spokesperson Manne Krishank said sand revenue, which stood at Rs 39 crore before 2014, increased significantly during the BRS regime and reached Rs 886 crore by 2015 due to policy reforms. He alleged that the current government has failed to sustain revenue growth despite increasing prices and operational changes. He reminded that sand was made affordable at Rs 645 per tonne, ensuring accessibility for the common people.

According to the BRS, sand prices rose to Rs 1,600 per tonne under the present Congress regime, along with higher transportation costs. Service charges have also been increased sharply from Rs 3 to Rs 100 per tonne, yet without a proportionate rise in revenue, causing concern over possible leakages.

Krishank pointed to extended mining hours and round-the-clock transportation under the current policy, alleging potential violations of environmental norms without corresponding financial gains. He suspected possible diversion of revenue allegedly by sand mafia and demanded that the Chief Minister’s Office to clarify the discrepancies and place complete data in the public domain to ensure transparency.