Chhattisgarh Assembly witnessed uproar on Tuesday over illegal mining of sand in Dhamtari district as the entire Opposition vented ire for the BJP Government's alleged inability to check the rampant loot of sand while one of the Congress members staged walkout twice on the issue.
Congress member lekhram Sahu, through his questions had sought information from Chief Minister Raman Singh, who is also in-charge of mining department, that as on February 22 2013 which individual, firms/agency/panchayats were given approval to operate sand mining, at how much land area and for which duration. He also wanted to know that during the financial year 2010-11, 2011-12 and in 2012-13 till 22 February 2013 the State received how much royalty on mining of sand in the district.
In his written reply, Singh informed the House that total 39 sand mines were operational in Dhamtari district which have been notified by the State administration at different point of times.
The Chief Minister, however, denied that any individual/firm or agency has been given approval for operating the sand mines. According to the Chief Minister, most of these mines are located on the bed of Pairy and Mahanadi rivers and their tributaries. To boost the economic condition of village panchayats and local urban bodies management and operation of these sand mines have been assigned to the respective panchayat/local urban bodies. The respective panchayat body or local urban bodies are duly collecting royalty on sand, the Chief Minister told the House.
However, charging that State Government was protecting sand mafia causing loss of crores to the State exchequer, Congress member lekhram Sahu walked out from the House twice.