Jammu, June 7 (HS). Former minister and senior BJP leader Sukhnandan Choudhary has urged the Lieutenant Governor (LG) administration to approve tenders and allow legal mining of sand and gravel in the Tawi river following the model of other government construction agencies.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, Choudhary was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir BJP media in-charge Dr Pradeep Mahotra and DDC Dharminder Kumar. Choudhary asserted that the government has repeatedly advertised the block auction and invited tenders from eligible parties. Despite the presentations, the process is stuck for some reason.
Choudhary raised concerns about inconsistency in granting environmental clearances for tenders, questioning how other agencies obtain permission to use sand and gravel from the Tawi river under the same conditions. He argued that this inconsistency was causing unnecessary hardship to the common people.
“Due to these restrictions, common people are forced to pay exorbitant prices for sand and gravel. The cost of building a house has increased by at least 1.5 times,” Choudhary said. He also highlighted the plight of tractor-trolley owners whose vehicles have been confiscated by the police, leaving them unable to repay loans and debts.
Choudhary has brought the matter to the notice of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and through the media he is requesting immediate relief for the general public. He expressed hope that the LG will take prompt action as before to mitigate the difficulties of the people. He also urged the Chief Secretary to resolve the issue immediately, stressing the high expectations of the public from him as a local resident.