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| Sand cost increases due to blanket ban on extraction | | | SAAHIL SUHAIL
Early Times Report
ANANTNAG, Mar 3: Months after the Jammu and Kashmir Government imposed blanket ban on extraction of minor minerals from river Jhelum and its tributaries, the availability of sand and Bajri has declined across South Kashmir, raising its cost.
Geology and Mining Department officials told Early Times that the department on the direction of LG administration has imposed complete ban on extraction of minor minerals and it has caused severe inconvenience to the people who are had just started construction works. The construction industry and contractors executing government are also facing the brunt of ban. Poor workers (Job Card holders) executing works under centre sponsored scheme MGNREGA -Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act- are also facing problems due to the cost escalation of sand and Bajri. The price of river sand, which was earlier Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000, has increased to Rs 10,000 to 12,000 per unit (Per tipper).
A group of locals said that they had abandon constructions works because of the non-availability of sand and boulders.
"The driver refused to supply sand and conveyed us that the employees of Geology and Mining Department aren't allowing them to move with minerals," Fayaz Ahmad, an Anantnag resident said, adding black-marketing of material has broken all records in South Kashmir.
Drivers, who used to supply construction material, say that their vehicles are being seized and some important documents are being cancelled.
"Registration of vehicles is being cancelled and even vehicles are being seized. So ferrying sand and boulders is a risky job these days and most of the drivers have abandoned it," Reyaz Ahmad, a driver said.
"Ban on extraction of minerals and stringent measures against the transporters initiated by the department and other agencies have caused sand shortage and escalated rates of construction material," he added.
Quoting Supreme Court, High Court and National Green Tribunal directions, Geology and Mining Department last year in the month of November imposed blanket ban on extraction of minor minerals and rivers and rivulets in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Auctioning of minor mineral blocks as per the norms has been initiated at district headquarters to ensure people get construction material properly," an officer told ET. |
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