Price of river sand goes up in Faridabad, Palwal

Tribune News Service

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Faridabad, March 7

With sand mining coming to a halt in Faridabad and Palwal districts, the price of river sand used in construction work has shot up by more than 60 per cent, it is reported.

“The authorised sand mining in neighboring Palwal district has also come to a standstill, as the two companies awarded the annual contract have failed to clear the dues in time,” said Sanjay Sabharwal, District Mining Officer. He said while such a work in Faridabad was already banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) since November 2015, the work in Palwal has been suspended by the department till the dues were cleared.

He said while the annual sand mining contract in Faridabad was awarded to two companies for Rs 113 crore, the cost of the contract in Palwal was around Rs 58 crore for a year. It is reported that though the mining was started by the companies in October last year after the completion of all the formalities, the NGT ordered a ban on mining within a month (November) after lawyers associated with the complaints lodged in the tribunal filed a petition alleging illegal mining in the region. It was charged that the mafia was glove in hand with the mining companies and had constructed unauthorised bridges over the Yamuna from both sides (Faridabad and Noida) to carry out mining. The situation in Palwal district turned worse after two companies awarded the contract failed to deposit the licence fee .

“The rates of the river sand have shot up between 60 and 80 per cent, as the trolley load (150 sq. feet), which was earlier available for Rs 2,700 was now sold between Rs 4,500 and Rs 5,000,” claimed Ravi Kumar, a building material supplier, he said.

Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar, a local social activist, alleged illegal mining was still on in the district with the active involvement of the administration and police officials.