Punjab Congress would raise the issue of charging ‘gunda tax’ on the sand and gravel, to the tunes of lakhs of rupees, in the ensuing state assembly session.
“The sand scam by the mafia allegedly patronized by SAD-BJP government has left the Reddy brothers of Karnataka far behind many times. Despite intervention and instructions of Punjab and Haryana Court, Punjab government has failed to streamline the sand mining under the pressure of sand mafia,” said the leader of opposition Sunil Jakhar.
He added that more than a year had passed when the High Court ordered Punjab Government to clear 241 sand mines in less than five hectares but yet nothing was done. A deliberate sand scarcity had been invented to loot the common man, at the behest of the state government, said Jakhar. It’s an open secret that sand was being sold at manifold rates than prescribed by the State government while in the name of formality, poor farmers or small fish of sand mafia were booked and none dare to grab the real kingpins, charged Jakhar.
Steep rise in sand prices had adversely hit the daily wagers, mason besides other directly and indirectly related to the construction business. State government should immediately swing into action and pull the strings of sand mafia in the wider interest of general public, demanded Jakhar.