Punjab Chief Secretary Mr. Anurag Verma directed the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat and Mining that to coordinate with each other to prepare a list of villages for legal mining on Panchayat lands through a joint survey.
The Chief Secretary told the officials of both the departments during the meeting today that clear instructions have been given by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to provide sufficient sand to the residents of the state at affordable prices.
The Chief Minister also has inaugurated public mining sites in the state, where people are being given sand at the price of Rs. 5.50 per cubic feet. More public mining sites and commercial sites are being started by the government from where people will get sand at affordable rates.
Taking note of the news published in a section of the media about the potential of mining on panchayat land in Gol village of Pathankot district, the Chief Secretary told Finance Commissioner Rural Development and Panchayat DK Tiwari and Secretary Mining Gurkirat Kripal Singh that along with this village, more villages in Punjab should also be identified from where mining can be done legally.
After completing legal formalities in this regard, an auction should be held to give these lands for mining. The Chief Secretary has asked both the departments to report in this regard within 14 days and a review meeting will be held in this regard on August 28.
Mr. Anurag Verma said that both the departments should coordinate and make efforts in this direction. With this, the income of the Panchayat and the Government and the availability of sand will also increase.