‘Illegal’ sand lifting in Abohar, mayor says not aware

Tonnes of sand that had accumulated following the excavation of two reservoirs on the Hanumangarh road here was allegedly sold at lower rates without inviting bids by the Municipal Corporation.

The issue was brought to light by local media outlets.

However, Mayor Vimal Thatai feigned ignorance, saying the matter was “not in his notice” as the civic body “had not invited any bids”.

“No paperwork in this regard has been carried out by the corporation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar alleged that the sand deal was struck by violating rules and demanded a high-level inquiry into the whole episode.

Former legislator and ruling AAP leader Arun Narang said the AAP government would certainly order investigation, if any irregularity found.

According to sources, the sand was sold at Rs 500 per trolley, whereas the minimum rate was Rs 1,000 per trolley.

Local media outlets have claimed that the work was stopped on Monday when video clips of the lifting of sand surfaced online.

According to reports, hundreds of trolleys were used to lift the sand from the sites in the past three days under the “supervision of some private individuals”.

MC Assistant Commissioner Krishan Pal Rajput was quoted by the media as saying that “someone had sought permission to lift the sand”.

According to reports, he had said that he took a blank cheque from the involved person and gave him permission to lift the sand.

Rajput had allegedly said he would “prepare a report on the number of trolleys that lifted the sand from there and fill the amount on the blank cheque at the rate of Rs 500 per trolley” before submission of the cheque to the corporation.

Meanwhile, Punjab Water Supply Sewerage Board Junior Engineer Shavinder Singh said he was also not aware of the lifting of the sand fromthe sites.