Global Sand Mining Wars
Four booked for illegal sand mining
The Bhindi Saida police have booked four persons for allegedly indulging in illegal excavation of land near the Ravi river. It was an agricultural land.
The case was registered following a complaint by officials of the mining department. They said they had got a tip-off that illegal digging of sand was going on at the spot. A visit to the site confirmed this.
In the complaint lodged by Inderjit Singh, junior engineer/mining inspector, river works, Amritsar subdivision, said Nirmal Singh, Jagtar Singh, Nirvair Singh and Sukh, all residents of Ghoga village falling under the Bhindi Saida police station, were involved in illegal sand exaction during nights.
A team led by him inspected the spot. Though no recovery was made from the scene, it was found that there was a crater of around 40 by 40 feet from which around 12-feet-deep sand was illegally excavated. He said the accused did not have any licence or approval from the department for same.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Kuldeep Singh, investigating officer, said a case under Section 21 (1) of the Mining Act was registered against four suspects and raids were on to nab them.
Ranchi: Residents take to streets over high sand price
Jul 3, 2022
RANCHI: After trade bodies and builders, the common people took to the streets on Saturday to protest against the state government over the ongoing sand crisis.
More than three dozen citizens from various walks of life marched from Shaheed Chowk to Albert Ekka Chowk, raising slogans and carrying dhols against the state government.
The protestors also demanded immediate resumption of the sale of sand at reasonable price. The rate has touched triple its original rate. They also accused the government machinery of lackadaisical attitude towards the allocation of ‘balu ghats’ (sand banks), which has added to the crisis.
The residents also highlighted the plight of daily wagers who are losing out on livelihood due to the shortage of work opportunities as construction work has come to a standstill.
Talking to TOI, social activist Munchun Rai from Station Road area said, “We are constructing a temple and have called artisans from Orissa. But they were forced to wait for sand for more than a week. We had to shell out Rs 45,000 for one Hyva of sand, which was earlier available for Rs 18,000.”
“The prices have jumped to new heights since former mines secretary and suspended IAS officer, Pooja Singhal, was arrested in a corruption case. This is black marketing of sand and it is a crisis created by the state government and its officials,” Rai added.
“This government claims to be of workers, tribals, and the poor people. But why isn’t chief minister Hemant Soren acting against his own officials who are pushing the daily wagers towards unemployment,” said Nishant Yadav, a protestor.
Two tractors trying to lift sand torched in West Singhbhum
Jul 3, 2022
JAMSHEDPUR: Illegal sand mining is rampant in the villages located on the banks of Karo and Koyal rivers under the Gudri block of Chakradharpur sub-division in the West Singhbhum district.
SP Ashutosh Shekhar said preliminary report indicated that the Peoples’ Liberation of Front of India (PLFI) on Thursday had allegedly torched two tractors that had arrived for lifting the sand at Kamargaon located on the banks of Karo river.
A team led by the sub-division police officer (SDPO) of Chakradharpur would investigate the case, he added.
Police said the extremists fired in the air to terrorise the sand mafia engaged in lifting sand illegaly before setting the tractors on fire. The owners of the vehicles, which were set ablaze, have not lodged any police complaint yet. The vehicle’s registration number reveal that the owners are the residents of the Sonua police station area, they added. The villagers of the Baandu and Tomdelh panchayats told police that illegal lifting of the sand is rampant from the banks of the two rivers. Over a dozen vehicles had arrived on Thursday. Only two tractors were waiting for their turn when the PLFI’s Santosh Kandola squad members arrived and set fire to the tractors, police added. Patrolling has been increased and special vigil is being kept on the movement of vehicles carrying sand and stone chips, police added.
