‘Monsoon holiday’ for sand collection begins June 1 along Godavari river - The HinduUpdated - May 31, 2026 09:53 pm IST - RAJAMAHENDRAVARAMThe annual ban on sand excavation and collection will come into force along the banks of the Godavari River from Monday as part of the “monsoon holiday” as prescribed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).“The sand excavation and collection will be banned on semi-mechanised reaches and patta lands from Monday [June 1] as part of the ‘monsoon holiday’ for the sand collection. The ban will continue till October 15,” Mines and Geology Deputy Director D. Phanibhushan Reddy stated in a release.Meanwhile, the East Godavari district authorities have stored 14.57 lakh metric tonnes of Godavari sand for supply in the 43 reaches, including Kovvuru, Peravali, Nidadavolu, Sithanagaram, Rajamahendravaram, and Tallapudi, in the East Godavari district. The Departments of Mines and Geology, Revenue, Water Resource Department and Police will keep vigil on the illegal sand collection and transportation from June 1.Published - May 31, 2026 09:14 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }