Ensure hassle-free supply of sand, Punjab CM tells contractors
Darpan News Desk IANS, 07 Apr, 2022 10:39 AM
Chandigarh, April 7 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday categorically asked the sand contractors to ensure hassle-free and smooth supply of sand to the people at the rates fixed by the government.
Reiterating his commitment to ensure seamless supply of construction material to the people at the affordable rates, the Chief Minister said the current mining policy is being reviewed meticulously so as to formulate a new comprehensive pro-people mining policy.
He said the Mines and Geology Department is also now in the process to re-assess the available quantity of sand at the existing mining sites and subsequently, new sites would also be included in the forthcoming mining policy after comprehensive study.
Mann also said the geology department would be strengthened with requisite manpower and latest technology so as to enhance its capacity.
Responding to the issues raised by contractors about their harassment at the hands of police besides other muscle men acting on the behest of local leaders and petty political functionaries, the Chief Minister assured them of no interference and political pressure from any of his minister, MLAs or party volunteers.
"Despite all this, even in few remotest cases, someone still forces you to resort to illegal practices, then you should record the conversation either in audio or video mode and upload the same on the 'Anti Corruption Action Line' number 9501-200-200 and the guilty would not be spared at any costs," he said.
At the same time, Mann said if any complaint about malpractices being done by the sand contractors is brought into his notice, then they would also face the similar action, and not expect any sort of leniency from him.
Chief Secretary H.K. Diwedi held an emergency meeting with the District Magistrates and Superintendent of Polices of West and East Burdwan, Bankura, Birbhum, Hooghly, and Howrah on Thursday evening and took stock of the situation. After that the state government decided to deploy the Army in certain areas. However, NDRF teams have been kept on standby.
According to sources, Amarinder Singh will convene a meeting of leaders close to him in a few days to consider the formation of his new party, which will include all the leaders of the anti-Sidhu faction.
The arrested persons have been identified as Abdul Khalid, Shriram Chaurasia, Zishan Ahmad, Vikas Kesarwani and Krishna Kumar. Inspector (Kareli) Anupam Sharma said the arrested persons had sold SIM cards to law-breakers at high prices after creating fake IDs.
The ex-CM of Punjab recalled that Rawat himself had publicly stated after meeting him that he was satisfied by his government's track record on the 2017 poll promises.
It is learnt that Channi in his first meeting with the Prime Minister after becoming chief minister of Punjab requested that the Centre take back its decision to postpone paddy procurement by 10 days. The Centre has postponed the procurement of paddy by 10 days due to rain in Punjab and Haryana. Earlier the procurement was supposed to start from October 1 but now it will start from October 11.
Scotching speculation to the contrary, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday made it clear he was not joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but had no intention of continuing in the Congress either, which he said was going downhill with senior leaders completely ignored and not given a voice.
