The Gabbada sand depot, with an estimated reserve of 48,000 tonnes of sand, has been at a standstill for the past few months, leaving builders in the Narsipatnam constituency scrambling to find alternative, often illegal, sand sources at inflated prices. Despite the alliance government’s announcement of a new sand policy, there has been no movement on resuming supply from the Gabbada depot.
The issue drew attention when Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu visited the depot on July 15, in response to numerous appeals from builders and residents. During his visit, he directed mining authorities to identify those responsible for illegally storing an additional 63,000 tonnes of sand at the site. Patrudu made it clear that no sand supply should resume from the depot until the investigation into the illegal stockpiling was complete, intending for the sand to remain as evidence.
The investigation led to Prathima Infra being fined ₹18.7 crore on September 12 for unauthorized sand mining. Despite this, no decision has been made to release the stocked sand, resulting in a three-month hiatus in sand supply. The Anakapalle district collector has kept Patrudu informed of developments, but no further action has been taken.
The silence surrounding the depot’s reopening has left many questioning why such a vast stockpile of sand—enough to last two months if sold at 800 tonnes per day—remains unused while illegal sand mining runs rampant in nearby rivers. Builders in the Narsipatnam area are struggling, with many forced to buy sand from unauthorized sources at significantly higher prices, further straining the local construction industry.
The lack of resolution has only deepened the mystery surrounding the Gabbada depot, and the Speaker’s continued silence on the issue has left stakeholders baffled and seeking answers.
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