The police clampdown on illegal sand mining is affecting supply of sand for construction work in Patna.
Many builders have stopped construction for the time being because of scarce supply of sand or availability at a higher cost. For the past few weeks, the state police are carrying out extensive operations against the illegal sand mafia through raids in Maner, Bihta, Ara and other districts. Also, quarrying of sand from the riverbanks has been stopped. The sand being supplied to builders or petty contractors now is that stored by suppliers.
"Construction work at our ongoing projects has been hit owing to inadequate supply of sand," Nanhey Kumar, a city-based builder who owns Kaushiki Real Estate, a construction firm, said. "The suppliers are demanding higher price for sand. Earlier, a tractor full of sand (around 100 cubic feet or CFT) cost Rs 2,600, but now the suppliers are demanding Rs 5,000 to Rs 5,500." Even builders who are ready to shell out the money are not getting enough sand for their projects.
Construction work in private residential houses has also been hit by inadequate supply of sand. Mohammed Habib Ali, who is carrying out construction work at his residence in Sabjibagh area, has stopped construction work midway. "I had to stop construction work when the contractor overseeing work indicated inability to carry on working as sand supply slowed down."
During the special drive Patna police have launched against the sand mafia at Maner, Bihta and other Diara (riverine) areas since the last week of July, they have seized 40 Poclain machines (meant for quarrying sand) and around 500 trucks and arrested over 200 persons.
Sources said the police decided to clamp down on illegal mining, as there were reports that the sand mafia involved in illegal sand mining were violating both environment and mining laws. As per mining law, mining on the riverbed is prohibited during monsoon, from July 1 to September 30, but many illegal sand quarries operate in Maner and Bihta areas. Also, labourers are allowed to dig just 3m for mining sand, but many a time they dig 8-10m underground, inviting hazards for the riverbed.
Besides, authorities have allowed labourers to transport only 100 CFT of sand, but many a time the labourers transport around 150 CFT of sand, in connivance with the police and mining officials.
"Much of the action against illegal sand quarrying is being undertaken after the National Green Tribunal's (NGT's) 2016 guidelines on illegal sand mining came into force in the state," said Satish Kumar Singh, joint secretary-cum-director in the mines and geology department.
"NGT has directed the state government to ensure there is no illegal sand mining on the floodplains of the Ganga and other rivers in the state. The NGT guidelines recommend bringing an end to mining on the river bed during monsoon."
The mining department secretary also rebuked claims by builders and sand suppliers about shortage of sand in the state. "Licenced stockists have enough stock of sand," Singh said. "Supply of sand is electronically monitored by the department through electronic challan issued by the department for sand supply." The official said only only those suppliers who were illegally operating in this trade were complaining about sand shortage.
The mining official's statement assumes significance as this week when the Patna central range DIG Rajesh Kumar, who was inspecting various ghats on the Ganga, spotted huge quantities of sand near the river bed at an area spread over half a kilometre. The DIG then suspended Khajekala police station house officer Rakesh Bhaskar for not taking action against the illegal sand mafia operating in his area.
