DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

In order to provide sand and gravel at affordable prices to people of the state, Punjab Mining and Geology Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal, on Thursday, convened crucial meeting with contractors of the commercial mining sites (CMS), wherein he emphatically asked contractors to ensure sand and gravel are made available to the public at reasonable rates.

While interacting with the contractors, Sh. Goyal said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government has eradicated the sand mafia which had flexed its muscles in the past, to ensure that people get cheap sand. He said that now the sand is being sold at just Rs.5.50 in public and commercial mining sites thereby giving a major reprieve to the people.

He informed that so far 73 public mining sites and 40 commercial mining sites clusters have been operationalized in the state for ensuring pit head price of sand at Rs.5.50 per cubic feet.

He informed that the total extracted quantity to date is 18.38 LMT out of the total capacity 47.19 LMT from 73 public mining sites. Whereas, 40 commercial mining sites clusters have a planned extraction quantity of 138.68 LMT, with 34.50 LMT of sand and gravel already extracted. Over 132.99 LMT of sand and gravel is still available on both PMS and CMS sites, he added.

Unequivocally slamming the previous governments for producing and patronising the sand mafia in the state, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that everyone knows that these leaders were hand in glove with sand mafia that plundered the state during their long misrule.

The Mining Minister said, crackdown has been launched against the sand mafia, which was patronised by the previous regime leaders, adding that Mann government has taken myriad of steps to eradicate the sand mafia which had flexed its muscles in the past.

The Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab government has set a target to open total of 150 public mining sites and 100 commercial mining sites in the state.

Sh. Goyal said that public mining sites allow the public to excavate and sell sand at their own, contributing to increased supply and subsequently reducing market rates.

Divulging the details of the measures taken to check the illegal mining, the Mining and Geology Minister said, "We are taking strict action against illegal mining activities and so far, 1360 FIRs have been lodged from April 2022 to October 2024 as per the provisions of mining Act and rules in the state."

The Mining Minister also carefully listened to contractors' issues and assured their prompt resolution. "People should not be harassed at any cost," the Cabinet Minister clearly stated, while urging cooperation in completely preventing illegal mining.

The Cabinet Minister said that stringent measures would be implemented on overloaded vehicles transporting mineral resources from other states and the Transport Department would be instructed to take action against overloaded vehicles, which will further ensure that contractors can continue their operations as they are providing employment opportunities for

local people.

(editor@dailyworld.in)