Vehicles illegally transporting sand can be confiscated under new rule

The Madhya Pradesh Government on Thursday told the State Assembly that new rules framed by the regime  have provision for confiscation of vehicles conveying sand to other States without obtaining pass.

"Transportation of sand to other States is not prohibited. There is an arrangement for checking vehicles at border areas and collecting royalty. There is a provision for confiscation of vehicles conveying sand without obtaining pass," said Mineral Resources Minister Rajendra Shukla while replying to a query by Girish Gautam of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Question Hour.

Gautam said that a large number of trucks were conveying sand to Uttar Pradesh leading to an increase in price in the State.

Earlier, slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' by principal-opposition Congress members rent the Madhya Pradesh House soon after Congress legislators Mahendra Yadav Brajendra Yadav who recently won the assembly bypolls from Kolaras and Mungaoli today took oath as members of the state Assembly.

As soon as the proceedings commenced for the day, the member duo was administered oath by Speaker Sitasaran Sharma. Immediately after the members took oath, Leader of the Opposition Ajay Singh chanted the slogan 'Jai Shri Ram'. Other Congress members too joined him. Later, Congress legislators also chanted the slogan 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai.'Taking a jibe at opposition members, senior BJP member and former chief minister Babulal Gaur said the Congress took too long to chant 'Jai Shri Ram.