Prices of sand and gravel reduced to Rs 5.50/cft in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Promising to provide sand and gravel to the public at “minimum affordable rates”, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Punjab State Sand and Gravel Mining Policy, 2021 to provide sand and gravel at Rs 5.50/cubic feet across the state.
As per new policy, the sand and gravel shall be provided to the public at Rs 5.5/cft at mining sites including loading charges. Further, the royalty rate of ordinary clay and ordinary earth will be decreased from Rs 10 per ton to Rs 2.5 per ton.
Chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi said after the Cabinet meeting, “Sand mafia has been a key issue in Punjab. Despite the approved rate being Rs 9 per cubic foot, sand was earlier sold between Rs 16 to Rs 22 per cubic foot and we had tried to ensure that there was no overpricing. Today, the Cabinet has decided to reduce the rate from Rs 5.50 per cubic foot, excluding the transportation charges, beginning Wednesday. The contractor will ensure the filling up and weighing of sand. On an experimental basis, I had given instructions to SSPs and DCs that the approved rate is enforced,” said Channi.
He also promised a new sand mining policy ahead of the next elections. “We do not appreciate the existing policy, but it is binding, and we do not want to get into legal hassles,” he said.
“If sand is sold at a higher price then I am responsible. The enforcement of the rules is upto us. Till now, money was being siphoned off but we will wipe out the mafia,” he said.
According to the new mining policy, the landowner or possessor can dispose of ordinary earth extracted during the levelling of their agriculture fields up to 3-feet. Removal of any minor mineral by the landowner/panchayat is allowed for meeting their land-filling requirements and for their bona-fide requirements including religious and development activities. These activities do not require any rent, royalty or permit fee and no permit is required. These activities will not be hindered by the officials and contractors without any valid reason and disciplinary action shall be initiated if any official or contractor is found guilty.
Dedicated toll free numbers will be made available to the consumers to register their complaint regarding rates, if ever charged more than prescribed ones, added the spokesperson.
Notably, the mineral concessions of sand & gravel mines in the Punjab State have been awarded through e-Auction to the various concessionaires in accordance with the Punjab Sand and Gravel Mining Policy, 2018. Quantities to be mined were fixed at 350 lakh metric tonnes per annum. With this policy, the Government has fixed the pit head selling price of sand and gravel at Rs 9/cft including loading charges. The average sale price of the sand and gravel in various cities of Punjab varies from Rs 20/cft to Rupees 35/cft depending upon distance from source to destination.