Balodabazar. The sand mafia in the district is continuously engaged in illegal excavation and transportation of sand and is selling it indiscriminately without royalty slip. The collusion of Mineral Department officials in this work cannot be ruled out. When the Collector received this complaint, he instructed the Tehsildars of the district to take action against those transporting sand in their respective areas. Today, against illegal sand transportation, Balodabazar Tehsildar Rajru Patel seized 3 pits without sand filled in Kukurdi Bypass.
The seized vehicles include CG 28 Q 9988, CG 22 V 6074, CG 28 H 8108, which have been handed over to the nearest police station. All these actions have been taken under sections 21 to 23 of Chhattisgarh Minor Mineral Rules 2015 and MMDR Act 1957. Fine action is being taken against these vehicle owners as per rules.
It is noteworthy that Collector KL Chauhan has issued instructions to the revenue officials to take strict action in the case of illegal trade of sand in the district. Instructions have also been given to examine all the documents related to illegal sand storage, permission and excavation, transportation as well as royalty slips etc. Tehsildar said that the administration is keeping a close watch on those doing illegal sand mining and business. Strictest action will be taken if caught doing such illegal business and transportation.
Contractors selling sand at rates many times higher than the fixed price
Let us tell you that the administration is taking action against the vehicles transporting sand but is not taking any action against the sand mine contractors, who are selling sand without royalty slip. It has also been revealed that the contractors are charging several times more sand than the rate fixed by the government. Neither the Mineral Department nor the administration is investigating this, due to which due to increase in the price of sand, the general public is facing financial loss in constructing buildings etc.
