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Jamshedpur: Sand mining rampant paying no heed to green bench ban

JAMSHEDPUR: Paying no heed to the ban imposed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban over sand mining in state, mafias are continuing with their illegal activities on the banks of Subarnarekha in Jamshedpur . According to eyewitness the sand mafias turning a blind eye to the ban are driving the tractor-trolleys and trucks inside the river, as the water level is very low and excavating the sand.



Trucks are being filled in the Seraikela area and then being sold at high rates at various places in the state and elsewhere. The situation is quite similar in the Baharagora area, where such illegal mining is rampant, added sources.

Sources said the authorities concerned are not serious about imposing the ban and do not carry out raids to catch the illegal mining in the area. Many believe that the officials are hand in glove with the mafias.

Meanwhile, the district mining department sources said earlier raids had been conducted and many vehicles carrying sand from river beds have impounded. A task force has been constituted to catch the sand mafias. Mining department officials informed that more than a dozen vehicles have been impounded for carrying illegal sand in the district. Few of the vehicles had illegal challan to ferry sand and it had been issued from neighbouring West Bengal .

Meanwhile, all the police stations in the district have been alerted and instructed to carry out raids to stonewall illegal sand mining in the area. In Baridih area of the city often dumper trucks laden with sand are seen. In the past five such dumper trucks have been seized following which there had been a slowdown in sand mining in that area.

Notably, sand mining ban has been imposed in state from June 10 this year to October 15.

On the other hand, the ban on sand mining has led to severe shortage of sand in the Steel City. Most of the construction work in the city has come to a halt as the sand price have shot up in leaps and bounds. A builder complained that sand is not available and we have to purchase it from blackmarket to carry out with our work. He said it would lead to delay in the completing the work and handing over the flats to the owners.

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