RJD calls for Bihar bandh over sand mining
As per an assessment, sand mining is a highly profitable business, and the estimated turnover ranges between Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 crores annually.
Patna: The RJD has called for a statewide bandh on December 21 to protest against the sand mining policy of the state government.
According to RJD leaders, the ongoing crackdown on sand mining has forced the builders to slow down the construction work in Bihar which has led to “job crisis among daily wage construction workers”.
Speaking on the issue RJD Chief Lalu Yadav said that “the state government is not concerned about the plight of the general public which is facing lots of hardship due to their policies. We will continue our fight and expose the failures of the government”.
The JD(U)-BJP government after coming to power in July came up with a new policy to regulate the trade and also to end illegal sand mining in Bihar.
As per an assessment, sand mining is a highly profitable business, and the estimated turnover ranges between Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 crores annually. However, reports suggest that the state government have been earning only around Rs 500 crore out of it.
The issue of illegal sand mining in the state was first raised by deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi in August. He has been alleging that the senior RJD leaders have close links with people associated with the mining mafia in Bihar.