Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 7: A sand contractor from Punjab is siphoning nearly Rs 7 crore off J&K every month for last two years.
Sources informed Early Times that the last auction of royalty contract of river Ravi in district Kathua was conducted by J&K Geology and Mining Department in 2012 and the contract was bagged by a contractor from RS Pura. The contractor was, however, a proxy for a Punjab-based group as being a J&K state subject was prerequisite for participating in the auction.
"The Makkad group from Punjab is the real contractor and their contract was to expire in March 2013, but some legal hitches stopped the Geology and Mining Department from new auction," the sources said.
They said the ban on royalty contract proved a boon for Makkad group, which had been securing extensions on royalty contract for the last two years. "The royalty on one ton material is Rs 16 fixed by the Geology and Mining Department, but the contractor has been charging Rs 90 per ton," said the sources, adding that one truck carries nearly 40 tonnes of material, and in this way Rs 3600 was charged as royalty with Rs.3000 extra charge.
The sources said that in Ravi river, there were three entry points towards J&K, one near Madhopur, other near Behrian, Pattan and the third at Keerian, Gandial. "The dumpers at all three points make nearly 800-1000 rounds in river and take river material from Jammu's limit as Punjab limits have negligible material," the sources said.
"If 800 dumpers are taken into account, nearly Rs. 24 lakh is charged extra by the sand mafia, and in a month nearly Rs 7.20 cr is charged extra by them," they said.
"Industry Minister CP Ganga during his visit to Ravi river in March had openly said that there would be no further extension of the royalty contract. But after only few days, extension for three more months has been given," the sources said.
They alleged that many bureaucrats, politicians and officials of various departments were party to the exploitation of J&K's wealth.
Director Geology and Mining and Industry Minister Ganga were not available for comment despite repeated efforts by Early Times. |
