Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced starting a toll-free number for regulating sand mining in the state.
Government will sternly implement NGT directives and will not allow sand mafia to flourish in the state, he said.
The opposition, not satisfied with the reply, staged a walk out on Friday, the fifth day of winter session of Chhattisgarh State Assembly.
JCC(J) MLA Dharamjeet Singh and BJP MLA Narayan Chandel raised the issue through call attention motion stating that in 15 districts around 850 mines are restricted to papers due to which illegal sand mining is flourishing in districts of Raipur, Bilaspur, Mahasamund, Janjgir-Champa, Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur, Mungeli, Bastar and other districts.
Illegal transportation and royalty is being charged and sand is being sold at Rs 14000 to Rs 15000 per truck. Most of the pits are in hands of mafia causing revenue loss to the state.
Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik and Brijmohan Agrawal said a gang-war like situation is arising in the state which will affect law and order. Agrawal said in Raipur more than 700 applications were filed and even liquor mafia lobby has entered into this trade.
Chief Minister Baghel in his reply said for the first time in the country, the state has gone for reverse bidding, which is an integrated system for contract based on the districts. A new sand mining policy was announced on August 2019.
A total of 247 sand mines tender were called, out of which 183 have been opened. The 65 mines already having environment clearance, from which around Rs 1.08 crore royalty has been received. He denied of any illegal sand mining taking place in different districts.
He further said in 10 months 3203 illegal mining/transportation cases have been registered and 3.98 crore have been recovered. Joint probe team of mining, revenue and police department has been constituted. The rate range from Rs 8000-9000 to Rs 4000-7000 per haiwa based on districts. More than 10,000 applications were received from which Rs 250 crore has been received as royalty, auction amount, DMF head, and environment infrastructure and stamp duty.
