Punjab government to sell sand, gravel to consumers

Chandigarh: Facing criticism over "spiraling" prices of sand and gravel, SAD-BJP led Punjab government on Tuesday decided to excavate and sell minor minerals through the state-owned departments by eliminating the role of private mining contractors in a bid to check rising prices. In a cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the state government on Tuesday gave nod to amend Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013 thereby allowing the state industries department to allot 37 quarries to the Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC) at a fixed rate of royalty to supply sand and gravel to consumers at cheaper rates.

Disclosing this on Tuesday a government spokesperson said that the PSIEC will ensure the supply of sand and gravel at pithead level on a "fair" price whereas the Punjab Mandi Board will supply the minerals to the consumers at their doorsteps or at market committee yards by charging transport rates fixed by the transport department on kilometer basis.

The consumer will have the option of booking sand and gravel at market committee level as well. "The amendment in minor mining rules will certainly benefit people as the role of private contractors will be eliminated and the state government (through its own departments) will sell sand and gravel. With this decision, the prices of sand and gravel will come down by 50 per cent," state's Industries Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said.

The state government at present was auctioning the quarries or mines to private people who were blamed for selling sand and gravel at "very higher" prices, drawing criticism from several quarters. The opposition party Congress had even accused SAD-BJP ruling combine of being a mere puppet in the hands of sand mafia and had done nothing to contain the rising prices of minor minerals.

The Cabinet also decided to bifurcate the post of Director Industries and Mining. A separate officer of the requisite seniority would be posted as Director Mining, whose sole responsibility would be to look after the mining of minor minerals in the state and supply thereof, he said. The Cabinet also authorised the Industries and Agriculture Ministers to remove any difficulty coming in the way of implementing this policy.