Effort to ensure supply of sand, gravel to people at affordable prices

In order to ensure adequate supply of sand and gravel to the people at affordable prices in the State, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has directed to constitute committees for exploring the possibility of mining of gravel from the areas excluding Punjab land Periphery Act (PlPA) in Kandi areas of Rupnagar, Pathankot and Hoshiarpur districts.

Presiding over a high-level meeting to streamline the supply of sand and gravel in the State, the Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday asked the Chief Secretary to form committees including officers of concerned districts under the Sub Divisional Magistrates so as to explore the new potential areas from where the sand and gravel could be obtained.

He said that the committees should look for the Kandi area excluding the PlPA so that easy availability of these minerals could be ensured.Taking strict cognizance of reports regarding selling of local sand and gravel to other neighbouring states, the Deputy CM asked the officers to levy heavy tax on vehicles ferrying sand and gravel from Punjab to other states.

He directed the Department concerned that quarrying of sand and gravel should be accelerated to increase supply in the market so that prices could come down considerably.Sukhbir asked the Irrigation and Industries Departments to explore the feasibility for mining of sand from river bed of Satluj and Beas with draggers in order to meet heavy demand of sand.  He also asked the Mining Department to issue disposal permits to the Irrigation department during dredging of canals and rivers.

He said that the state aims at limiting the price of sand between Rs 600-650 per hundreds cubic feet, so as to facilitate the common man.  Pertinently, the daily demand of sand in the state was 58000 tonne approximately.Deputy Chief Minister said that he would personally monitor the availability of mining material to the general public and review the position after few weeks. He instructed the officers of the Industries and Mining department to conduct the reverse bidding of 80 mines by September 20 and fix lower prices to supply  sand and gravel at affordable rates.

It was informed in the meeting that these mines would supply about 90 lakh tonn sand per annum and able to meet the demand and supply chain in the state.

Mining department officials informed that 70 mines were already operational in the state and cases for environmental clearance for more 150 mines have been submitted to the Union Government.