Quicksand

PUBLIC disgust with the sand mafia in Punjab and the Congress party’s promise to sort out the mess was one of the factors that led to the party’s victory in the polls. The change of government has, unfortunately, not resulted in a change on the ground. Illegal mining of sand and its sale requires a network that involves musclemen, transporters and contractors; such a network cannot operate without protection from the politicians and even the police. Once such a network evolves, it can, and, is, used for other purposes too. Regrettably, the new government has not dismantled the nexus.

Allegations about the involvement of Congress politicians now playing a leading role abound. Only recently a mining official alleged harassment by the police at the behest of the local MLA. A recent auction was not successful since the expectation of the bidders is an excessive profit margin. Sand prices in Punjab have come down marginally, but that is more on account of increased supply from illegitimate overexploitation. There are ecological consequences too, but it continues unabated, as ill-gotten gains from it lubricate the political economy. 

Capt Amarinder Singh’s government has shown no will to act against the sand mafia. Rana Gurjit Singh continues as a Cabinet minister in spite of his name figuring prominently in the controversy related to his suspected employees getting mining contracts. He apparently has business interests in spheres controlled by ministries under him. The Chief Minister needs to clean Punjab’s Aegean stables. Corruption was the bane of the previous government, and various cartels — liquor, cable and transport to name three prominent ones — have shown a phoenix-like ability to survive cyclical vicissitudes brought about by changes of administration. The cancer of corruption has mutated the fabric of Punjab, and ruthless syndicates have cynically exploited societal fault lines and personal weaknesses. The citizens expect the ruling establishment to deliver on its promise of good governance.