Alleging ‘mafia raj’ (dominance of mafia) in the sand business, Balu Truck Association of Ranchi has demanded that sand must be made free and need to be handed back to the villagers so that they can earn their living from it. While talking to the media persons at Chamber Bhawan in Ranchi, Secretary of Balu Truck Association Moiz Akhtar warned that if the ongoing black-marketing of sand was not checked by the State Government, they will go on indefinite strike.
“The stockiest license has been given to only one firm Dhabad Wines on May 20, 2017 which has been charging arbitrarily for issuing challan to the sand loaded trucks resulting into an unexpected and unwanted increase in the rate of sand in Ranchi,” said Akhtar. The Association, after meeting with the Chief Minister will request him to make it free in the State to check black marketing in sand business, he added.
“If the black marketeering is not stopped in the State, the Association will have no other option but to go on indefinite strike,” said the Secretary.
The Association also alleged that the Dhanbad Wines has been charging four times of the actual rate against issuing challan to the trucks.
“There has been an increase of Rs 1500, Rs 3000 and Rs 6000 of rates in mining challan by the company respectively for 709, dumper and hywa, resulting into an steep rise in the rates of sand in Ranchi,” he said. It is just because a single company was given the stockiest license in Ranchi, he added.
Akhtar alleged that the company has also been violating the orders of National Green Tribunal by quarrying of sand even these days and mining challan are being issued against it. The NGT has passed an order to stop sand mining on all riverbeds in the Country during monsoons to protect aquatic life-forms, which breed during the season.