North News
Chandigarh, November 21
Punjab’s Mining and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal held a crucial meeting with contractors on November 21, calling for sand and gravel to be made available at affordable prices to the public. Goyal emphasized that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state government has successfully dismantled the sand mafia, which previously inflated prices.
The state now offers sand at Rs. 5.50 per cubic foot at both public and commercial mining sites. Goyal reported that 73 public and 40 commercial mining sites have been operationalized, ensuring transparency and affordability. A total of 18.38 LMT of sand has been extracted from public sites, while 34.50 LMT has been removed from commercial sites, with a combined 132.99 LMT still available.
Slamming the previous government, Goyal reiterated the current government’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining. Since April 2022, 1,360 FIRs have been filed for illegal mining activities, underlining the government’s crackdown.
Looking ahead, the Punjab government aims to expand to 150 public mining sites and 100 commercial sites to further reduce costs and promote local employment. Goyal also stressed the need for stringent action against overloaded vehicles transporting sand from other states.
