Opposition Leader Criticizes Jharkhand CM Over Sand Mining and Tax Collection Issues

Ranchi, October 17 (Daily Kiran) : Babulal Marandi, the Leader of the Opposition in Jharkhand, has launched a pointed critique of Chief Minister Hemant Soren regarding the management of sand mining operations, holding tax collections, and the status of road construction projects. Addressing the Chief Minister on social media, Marandi emphasized that while officials may rely on their positions, they cannot escape accountability.

Marandi highlighted that despite the auction of 302 sand mining sites, 288 remain closed. He accused the government of stalling necessary approvals, which hinders the operation of these sites. “The auction has been announced, but the files for required approvals are stuck,” he stated. He further claimed that the deliberate inaction regarding these sites promotes illegal sand mining. Marandi demanded clarity on who is responsible for obtaining environmental clearances and community approvals, urging the government to publicly disclose the status of these pending tasks.

He also pointed to the stagnation in holding tax collection since August 21, questioning the lack of an alternative arrangement after the previous agency’s contract ended. “Why has the collection stopped? The government must disclose the duration of this halt and the resulting revenue loss,” he said.

Marandi expressed concern over the 1,410 crore rupees worth of road projects in Ranchi, which are currently stalled, causing daily inconvenience to the public. He criticized the government’s slow pace in assigning responsibilities while failing to deliver on them. “Everyone knows the inefficiencies of officials like Sunil Kumar and Rajiv Lochan Bakshi,” he remarked, suggesting that their attempts to cover up their failures will eventually be exposed.

The opposition leader laid out eight specific demands related to the issues of sand mining, tax collection, and road projects. He called for a public disclosure of reasons for the closure of the 288 sand mining sites and a timeline for obtaining necessary approvals. Additionally, he insisted on ensuring regular supply and fair pricing of sand from legal sources, along with a transparent transport system.

Marandi demanded the immediate resumption of holding tax collection and a timeline for a new arrangement. He requested a detailed report on the revenue loss incurred due to the halt in tax collection, as well as an update on the status of the road projects. He urged the government to publish monthly progress reports on these issues and to review pending matters, taking action against responsible officials and contractors.

In closing, Marandi cautioned the Chief Minister to remember that while officials may write comments on files, it is the public that will ultimately judge his tenure. He emphasized that the BJP will not compromise on issues affecting the public interest, reminding Soren that he was elected by the people, not to serve as a guardian of pending files. “Provide answers, not excuses,” he concluded.