Dispute Over Sand Scarcity Ignites Debate in Jharkhand Assembly
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Ranchi, Dec 12 (NationPress) On the concluding day of the special session of the Jharkhand Assembly on Thursday, the topic of sand scarcity in the state ignited intense discussions both inside and outside the House.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, Babulal Marandi, raised the issue during the deliberations on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor's address.
Marandi asserted, “The sand crisis has evolved into a critical issue throughout the state. The government has not succeeded in auctioning sand ghats. Police apprehend individuals and file cases against them for transporting sand for residential construction. If the government is unable to auction the sand ghats, it should consider making sand freely accessible for construction purposes.”
He further demanded accountability from the government regarding the alleged looting occurring at the sand ghats. “The government speaks of initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Awas and Abua Awas, but sand is not available even for these projects,” he added.
Marandi also highlighted the issue on social media. In a post on X on Thursday, he stated, “The shortage of sand in Jharkhand has exacerbated the difficulties faced by the populace. Out of 444 sand ghats, only 51 have received approval, and of these, merely 24 are actively producing sand.
“As a result, construction activities in the state have ground to a halt. Sand prices have surged to unprecedented levels. In just a span of 10 days, the cost of a trolley of sand has escalated by Rs 12,000. In various districts of Jharkhand, including Palamu, sand is being sold at rates between Rs 25 and Rs 40 per bag.”
“This scarcity has had repercussions not only on residential construction but also on significant projects like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. If this crisis is not addressed promptly, developmental activities in the state may suffer severely. Hemant ji, to alleviate the plight of the people and revive the construction sector, it is imperative that the black marketing of sand is eradicated and decisive action is taken against the sand mafia,” he added.
Earlier, BJP MLA Kushwaha Shashi Bhushan Prasad Mehta conducted a sit-in at the Assembly entrance before the session commenced.
Mehta emphasized the impact of the shortage on vital housing projects, including PM Awas and Abua Awas, urging for immediate governmental intervention. He also addressed the matter in the House, stating that in his home district, Palamu, sand is being sold at exorbitant prices of Rs 45-50 per kilogram.
Former Chief Minister and BJP MLA, Champai Soren, speaking to journalists outside the Assembly, criticized the government's unmet promises.
“The government proclaimed free sand for house construction, but this is not being enforced. Instead, individuals transporting sand are being penalized. The government’s declarations and actions are inconsistent,” he stated.
