Noticing Government’s apathy in tackling the auction policy of sand affecting the job of at least 3 lakh rural residents, State Truck Owner Association (STOA) members have declared Chakka Jam across the State on December 20. Also, they have demanded a special session on this issue during Winter Assembly Session from December 13 to 20.
“Our labourers associated with jobs of sand quarrying and transportation of the minor mineral are unemployed for last 14 days. Even our vehicles assigned for this sand transportation have been stopped. Sand Auction cannot take place since the right on sand lies with panchayats. Revenue generated would also be used by the Panchayat. The auction process will hamper the employment of rural labourers. We have met Chief Minister Hemant Soren regarding this issue about four times. Except assurance there has been no solution yet,” said convenor of the association US Ojha.
For the same reason, the association members will demonstrate in front of Governor House and organise a torch light rally on December 13 and 19 respectively. In order to gain support of the political fraternity for their rights over sand, the association members will gherao the residences of all the state MPs and MlAs in the coming days.
Ojha said, “We aim to take the support of local ministers and MlAs including Rajendra Prasad Singh, Dadai Dubey, Suresh Paswan, Arup Chatterjee, Annapurna Devi, Chamra linda and few other representatives of political parties who have been requesting the CM to take off the auction plan on balughats.”
A meeting organised by STOA today attended by crusher machine, brick kiln, state motor federation and Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries members from Ranchi, Silli, Gumla, Patratu, Bundu, Ramgarh and Khunti.
Meanwhile, hearing on a PIl filed against the auction policy on sand was held in Jharkhand High Court today. State Government officials in its clarification over this issue said that they are following the process being adopted in 2011 amendment wherein any company offering high rate will get the mining license. The person filing this PIl had mentioned that state government was violating the rights of panchayats with this auction policy. High Court has kept its order reserved till further orders.