Punjab govt again attempts to befool people on illegal mining of sand and gravel

Puts ban on carrying sand, gravel out of state while no export taking place
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has made yet another attempt to befool the people of Punjab on the issue of controlling rates of sand and gravel. The government through a order today put a ban on carrying sand and gravel outside the state on the plea that it wanted to control the illegal mining.

The state government in first place has accepted that illegal mining is taking place in Punjab and it falls flat on earlier claims that no illegal mining is taking palce in Punjab. The fact is that sand and gravel is being sold at ten times higher rates than it were before SAD-BJP government came to power in 2007 and three times higher than rates fixed by mining department.

The order issued by state government to ban carrying of sand and gravel outside the state is ridicules and drafted to present a false picture to the people of state. In practicle no sand and gravel is being exported from Punjab to other states because rates of both the minerals are lower than Punjab in Haryana and Himachal Pardesh. The picture is totally opposite, the Punjab Government has put an unannounced ban on carrying sand and gravel from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to Punjab. The police on border posts has been given oral directions to detain any truck carrying sand and gravel while legally there is no ban on transporting mienerals from outside to punjab.

For the last one year the contractors are looting people and today state government has issued merely a warning that if contractors would not stop over charging their contracts would eb cancelled.

Punjab News Express has talked to Himachal based sand and gravel suppliers who said that they were ready to provide these minerals at half the rates prevailing in Punjab but their tippers are not allowed to enter Punjab so that mafia could maintain high rates in the state.

The ruling party leaders including ministers are involved in the illegal mining and a false promsie is being amde with the people that SAD-BJP government was serious to bring down the prices. If it is so then who has stopped them from bringing down the prices?

When Congress party was ruling at center Chief Minsiter Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal are on record to state that minings couldn'nt be auctioned due to non-clearance of files by Congress government. At the time of last Parliament elections, both father and son had told people that after BJP comes to power, rates of sand and gravel would come down to level of year 2007. Even till recently they have been claiming that BJP government has given clearnce for the auctioning of mines. Only 25 percent of sand and gravel mines are auctioned so far and there too contractors are charging double of the prescribed rates.

Chief Minister had also announced to set up Government depots for sale of sand and gravel through Mandi Board but not even a single depot was set up. Now to keep the rates high in Punjab Badals are playing another mischief and telling people they have banned export of sand and gravel.

The Punjab Government in a statement issued today said that it has put a ban on the carrying of sand and gravel out of the state. It is a part of the commitment of the state government to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to the people.

Divulging more details, the spokesperson said that a complaint system has also been devised under which people can complaint to the Director, Mining, Industries and Commerce through e-mail at stategeologistchd@gmail.com or at telephone no 0172-23701226 in case of contractor charging more than fixed rate.