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| One-year on, LG's promises to reduce prices of construction material unfulfilled | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 25: Exactly one year has passed since Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had promised to lower the prices of construction materials. What to say about lowering prices of construction materials, prices of sand and other materials are increasing with every passing day.
During his address on the eve of Republic Day on January 25, 2021, Lieutenant Governor had assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that prices of construction material are expected to fall significantly in the coming days.
“Jammu and Kashmir Government has simplified the complex mining process. E-auction of mineral blocks is being done by the Department of Geology and Mining in a transparent manner”, the LG had mentioned in his address on January 25, 2021, adding, “Due to complex auctioning process, the prices of construction material had gone up, which are expected to fall significantly in the coming days. The revenue of the Union Territory will increase, strengthening the economy”.
Interestingly, for the first time, the J&K had initiated e- auctioning of minor mineral blocks at a large scale with an objective to put in place a transparent process for the allotment of mineral blocks.
The Department of Geology and Mining had moved from the practice of “open-auctioning’ to ‘e-auctioning’ and so far 173 blocks across various districts in the Union Territory of J&K, were notified for the e-auctioning.
Although e-auctioning has been started prices of construction materials have gone beyond the capacity of poor and lower-middle-class families.
On December 26, 2021, general secretary (organization) of J&K BJP Ashok Koul on Sunday admitted that an influential mining mafia was operating the Union Territory and fleecing the commoners.
Responding to questions of media persons at Reasi, Ashok Koul said that BJP will take action against the mining mafia very soon.
Poor people are forced to purchase construction materials at extortionate prices. There is no check on rates because those at the helm of the affairs are giving patronage to the mining mafia.
It is all due to the patronage of some Babus, who have given free hand to the mining mafia to extract sand and related materials from anywhere, that there is no check on rates of building materials especially sand, gravels and Bajri.
On May 24, the district administration, Jammu had notified the maximum rates for minor mineral (Natural construction material) applicable in Jammu district and also constituted Tehsil level enforcement committees to check the black marketing of such minor minerals like Sand, Bajri, Gravels, and Boulders, etc.
The notification contains the names of the Officers with their telephone/cell phone numbers for the aggrieved consumer of overcharging, who can approach the concerned area Tehsildar who heads the enforcement committee for the purpose and it included the SHO in charge of the concerned Police station, Officials of Forest, Flood Control and Geology and Mining. |
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