The new sand mining policy in Punjab appears to be delayed even as the detailed report in this regard has already been submitted to the Chief Minister Amarinder Singh by Local government minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday.
In a recent development, the other members of the sub-committee have raised objections that the detailed report was submitted to the CM without taking them into consideration.
As Sidhu is the chairman of the sub-committee, other members includes the Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Rural Development minister, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and special invitee Revenue minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria. Bajwa told The Statesman that he was not consulted before the Local government minister submitted the report to the CM.
“Though the other committee members took part in previous sittings to decide upon the policy. But, it was surprising that no one was consulted at the end. I am not aware about the changes or suggestions made in the final detailed report,” Bajwa said.
Meanwhile, sources said that objections raised by the members of the committee may defer the finalisation of new mining policy. On the other hand, Sidhu said that he will have a word with his committee colleagues and will sort out the issue. He further said that the report is with the CM and will take the final call.
The committee has recommended the fixation of prices of sand at Rs 1,000 per 100 cubic feet. It also recommended that one trolley has 100 cubic feet capacity weighing four tonnes.
However, the CM has made it clear that the final decision on the report would be taken by the Cabinet after studying it. The report included the Centre’s statistics that 30 feet depth in three square kilometer area can fulfill the demand of Punjab for a whole year and one Crore tonnes gravel sand can be mined from 500 square kilometre area which has the potential to fulfill the demand for coming 170 years.
Sidhu said that in the meetings held by the committee and the field visits, it was found that Punjab has stock of sand for coming 100 years and that of gravel for 170 years.