Chandigarh: Congress leader & Punjab’s leader of the opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday has come down heavily against the Bhagwant Mann government for its complete inability to bring clarity & transparency on the distribution & sale of sand & gravel in Punjab.
As a result it was creating huge chaos and confusion among the people of Punjab who still have to dole out hefty sums to purchase sand at exorbitant rates from the mafia.
“ In fact it is still the sand mafia in Punjab which is ruling the roost while the common man has to shell out huge sums of money from his pocket to ensure his construction activity does not come to a standstill ”, said Bajwa.
Bajwa said though a few days ago the Punjab government had announced after the meeting of the council of ministers headed by Bhagwant Mann that the state would provide sand at Rs. 5.50 per cubic feet at about 18 designated mining sites earmarked by the government.
“ However people are still not aware about these designated sand mines. They also have no idea as to how these mines would be controlled & regulated by the state government”, added Bajwa.
The government even claimed that people could take their own mode of transportation to fetch the sand from the designated mines, however the mafia would not allow such smooth operation and would control & capture such operations through intimidation and force.
Bajwa also cornered Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his unrealistic and boastful approach towards illegal sand mining in Punjab before the assembly polls in 2022.
“ On December 6, 2021 Kejriwal had claimed that if voted to power the AAP government would generate more than Rs. 20,000 crore revenue by regulating the sand excavation. The AAP government has been in power in Punjab for more than 10 months now but the Bhagwant Mann could neither control the sand mafia nor generate Rs. 20,000 crore revenue. Such lofty statements were made only to mislead the people of Punjab before the assembly polls ”, added Bajwa.