Sometimes Government’s one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing so they cannot estimate the consequences of the decision.
While quarrying of sand has been put on hold on the ground of environmental clearances, the consequences of it is going to be same for several under-construction Government buildings. The issue which snowballed in a major controversy forced contractors to stock additional quantity of sand. However, the issue prolonged more than their expectations thus making delay in the project inevitable.
“We are left with sand stock for about a month but the work will be completed in three to four months. We will be left with no option but to suspend work if the issue is not resolved within a month,” said Mithilesh Singh, an engineer working for a contractor.
“There is no relaxation in rules even for sand needed for a Government building. Sand quarrying even if it is supplied to a Government building cannot resume unless environmental clearances are obtained,” said an official of District Mines department.
Notably, following the directive, the Ranchi district administration had seized dozens of trucks filled with sand for violation of the directive thus putting the truck owners at loggerheads with the administration. The truck owners association has threatened to go on indefinite strike in protest of the district administration’s step and have demanded quashing the charges slapped on the truck owners for supplying sand.
“We have met with the Deputy Commissioner in this regard and requested them to make provisions to collect royalty for quarrying sand. Simultaneously, we have asked them to nullify the charges slapped on a truck owner,” said president of Truck Owners Association U S Ojha.
As per estimates by the association, due to ban on sand quarrying `10 lakh worth business of sand is getting affected per day.