Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The issue of sand scarcity and illegal sand mining dominated the third day of the Jharkhand Assembly winter session. Panki MLA Kushwaha Shashi Bhushan Mehta alleged that the selection of MDOs at low rates for sand ghat operations under JSBCC has caused massive revenue loss to the state. However, the concerned minister denied the allegations, claiming that the government has suffered no financial setback.
MLA Accuses Sand Mafia Nexus And Inflation In Prices
Mehta said sand supply operations have effectively been handed over to police stations, allowing middlemen to control access instead of ensuring law and order. He questioned why sand that previously cost Rs 300 per tractor is now being sold for Rs 7,000. He demanded clarity from the government on whether people will continue to buy sand at inflated black-market rates or receive it affordably and transparently.
Minister Rejects Loss Claim; Lively Confrontation Ensues In House
Minister Yogendra Prasad refuted the allegations, stating that choosing MDOs at lower rates benefits the government because it has to pay those contractors directly. He said 100 CFT of sand is being provided at Rs 100 in 374 authorised sand ghats across the state. This response triggered strong objections, with Hatiya MLA Naveen Jaiswal accusing the minister of misleading the public, asserting that no district is actually supplying sand at that rate.
Debate Expands As Opposition Demands Proof And Policy Review
Jaiswal also criticised the 2025 sand ghat auction policy, arguing that the terms make it impossible for ordinary citizens to participate, benefiting only outsiders. Mehta demanded a list of sand ghats in Palamu where sand is genuinely available at Rs 100 per 100 CFT, along with details of the total amount collected from fines and MDO agreements. The opposition insisted that the government must ensure easy and affordable sand availability for the public.
