Amid controversy gathering around sand issue, the State Government has moved the Supreme Court seeking relaxation of environmental clearance norms put in place by National Green Tribunal (NGT). Chief Minister Hemant Soren informed the Assembly on Thursday.
The step has been taken eying to ease the scarcity of sand in the State for building construction industry which has been aggravated many fold after the recent auctioning controversy. “Do you want us to act against the ruling of the NGTIJ If yes then pass a resolution in this regard and I will ensure sand lifting from tomorrow. We have moved to the SC for relaxation and present our views on January 2,” said the CM replying to the volley of questions and arguments given by members highlighting the problem during a special debate on sand auctioning controversy in the State Assembly.
Members of the BJP, JVM and even those supporting the Government expressed concern on the situation and blamed the Government for muddling with the affairs and also leveled corruption charges. “Government changed its stand on various occasions and it is still unclear why the gram sabha has been brought if it was wrong at the first placeIJ
Names like Basant Soren are also taking round in the media. We want to know who is Basant Soren,” asked Pradeep Yadav of JVM.
He also questioned the rationale behind bringing down timeline from 21 days to 17 for applying against a tender and keeping different dates for the districts. “There was a clear-cut foul play. You wanted to facilitate things for your clients and manage tenders. The said Basant Soren played pivotal role into this,” added Yadav. BJP’s CP Singh also ridiculed the decision. “It is a subject of research for the scientists that how can a young Chief Minister of Jharkhand can extract oil from sand! At the same time I also congratulate the Ministers like Chandrashekhar Dubey and Annapurna Devi who voiced their concerns and forced the Government to backtrack,” he said blaming the decision for widespread unemployment. The Opposition was united in calling for a CBI probe into the matter.
JMM’s Hemlal Murmu apparently joined the Opposition chorus and in a veiled attack on the Government said that areas falling under the PESA and Scheduled-V should not be imposed with any such decision. “These areas have rights over minor minerals and only Gram Sabha can auction sand. It is unfortunate that our Government has not been able to formulate a clear policy over the issue. Clause of environmental clearance is also stringent and it is not possible for a mukhia to deal with this. An alternate route has to be found out.”
CPI-Ml’s Binod Singh advocated for Niyamgiri type model where role of panchayats has been outlined significantly. He also ripped apart logic given by some Congress MlAs that as the auction has not taken place no question of corruption and probe can arise. “Today’s scams are not taking place by violating rules but by forming policies that favour corruption. We also should think how common man would be benefited if sand is auctioned, be it to any person from Mumbai or Ranchi,” said Singh.
However the CM brushed aside all the charges and stressed that all the decisions had been taken with full transparency and anything in this regard would take place through panchayats. “Only politics has been played on this issue. It was the decision of the previous Government and during President’s Rule a consensus was arrived at. Does this House want that all the decisions of previous Government be reviewedIJ It is unfortunate that people were misled over the issue,” said the CM in his reply. He also justified the decision terming it legal.
‘RIMS guidelines in 15 days’
Answering questions about guideline for RIMS, which is not in place since the State was formed, Health Minister Rajendra Singh sought 15 days’ time. He also announced to form an audit panel headed by the Chief Secretary to look into power franchise issue for Ranchi and Jamshedpur. The Opposition was alleging losses of about Rs 100 crore and demanding a pre-audit by Principal Accountant General. Independent MlA Bandhu Tirkey even circulated a memo by the PAG suggesting irregularities noticed in the franchisee’s agreement.
The Government also agreed to establish a power plant at Pakur provided about 2000 acres land required is made available through JMM’s Aquil Akthar. Akthar assured about this. His question on validating degrees of ‘Aalim and Fazil’ (equivalent to BA and MA) through universities of the State was also accepted by the Government. “The degrees would be tagged with any university so that it can be equally valid outside Jharkhand,” said Minority Affairs Minister Haji Hussain Ansari.