Reward of Rs 25,000 offered to informants
To prevent illegal sand quarrying, the Punjab Government has taken a crucial decision to maintain tight vigil near the sand reaches. CM of Punjab Charanjeet Singh directed the official machinery to take steps to sell sand at the stipulated price. If anyone gives information containing video footage of illegal sand quarrying, such persons will get a cash reward of Rs 25,000.
The concerned deputy commissioners have been asked to fix the price of sand. The charges should be fixed depending on the distance from the sand reaches. Village panchayats requiring sand should be supplied free of cost. No charges should be collected from them. He asked the officials to collect charges from trucks supplying sand, but not from trolleys. He suggested collecting Rs 5.50 per cubic feet. He asked for the opening of the land to be closed down earlier. The CM appreciated measures taken by Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Mohali and Ropar district authorities. He said that the government would show no leniency towards anyone indulging in illegal sand quarrying however high positions they might be occupying. Political interference will not be tolerated in this regard under any circumstances.
