PATNA | Aug 24, 2017: State mines and geology department director Satish Kumar Singh has admitted sand scarcity following the police crackdown on illegal sand mining in Patna, Bhojpur and Saran districts.

However, he said on Wednesday, the scarcity is limited to Patna and adjoining areas. There is no scarcity of sand for construction purposes elsewhere in the state, he claimed.

Addressing a press conference, Singh said the Broadson Commodities Private Limited, which had been licensed to do sand mining in western Patna, was also involved in illegal mining. Hence, its licence was cancelled that has led to sand scarcity in Patna.

A statewide crackdown was initiated on illegal sand mining on July 30 immediately after the JD (U)-BJP government was formed in the state. At least 29 heavy earth movers and 340 vehicles besides several thousand cubic foot sand, which was illegally mined, were seized in the three districts.

Maner RJD MLA Bhai Dinesh was also made a non-FIR accused after it surfaced during investigation that he was involved in illegal sand mining.

"The department has asked the DMs to provide details of the unclaimed and seized stocks of sand lying under their jurisdiction so that they could be auctioned," Singh said and added the department was yet to receive reports from the DMs in this regard.

He said 1000-odd truckloads of sand seized in Saran district alone would also be auctioned. "Patna, Bhojpur and Saran contributes 40% of the sand production in the state," the director said, adding mining was not allowed in the state from July 1 to September 30 due to monsoon and 12 to 13 lakh CFT sand, stocked prior to July 1, was being sold in the market.

He said the department has issued strict orders that the sand mined in Bihar must not be taken to neighbouring states. "An e-challan process has been introduced by the department to stop forged use of manual challan. A mobile application will also be launched soon to detect illegal practices," he said.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)