The Uttarakhand government has banned the bringing of sand, gravel and boulders from Himachal Pradesh. With this, the mining businessmen of Uttarakhand are likely to get benefit. Whereas, it has become more expensive for the common people to build houses. A large quantity of sand, gravel and boulders are supplied to the state every day from Himachal Pradesh.

From Paonta, more than 500 trucks come to Uttarakhand every day carrying sand and gravel. But the government has now banned bringing sand, gravel and boulders from Himachal. Secretary Mining Meenakshisundaram and Doon District Magistrate R Rajesh Kumar have made these orders. Transporters have sent a memorandum to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, terming this move of the government as wrong.

Anil Pandey of Devbhoomi Transporters Association has said in the memorandum sent to the Chief Minister that the officers have made such an order to benefit the loved ones which is completely wrong. He said that as per the order of the Supreme Court, sand, gravel and boulder can be supplied anywhere in the country as per rules.   

People’s trouble has increased due to the ban on bringing sand, gravel and boulders from Himachal, which became costlier by 40 rupees a ton in Dehradun . Now sand has become costlier by Rs 40 per ton in Doon. During the supply from Himachal, a ton of sand was worth Rs 80, which has now reached Rs 120.

There has already been a boom in bars: There is already a huge jump in the prices of bars. The price of bars in Doon has increased by Rs 1500. The price of bars, which were sold at Rs 6700 per quintal in February, has reached Rs 8,200 by the end of March. Anurag Bhatt, operator of Bhatt Cement Store, told that last month the price of bars was Rs 6700, while on Sunday it was Rs 8200 a quintal.

Bricks are also getting expensive: At this time only the prices of rebar and sand are not increasing. Rather, brick has also become very expensive. Earlier the rates of a truck of top brick were between 4500 to 5000. Now these rates have become between 5000 to 6000. 

Vehicles will be confiscated if caught, 
in the order made by the DM and Mining Officer, it has been said that if any truck is caught bringing sand, gravel and boulder from the Himachal border, then such vehicle will be immediately confiscated. A letter has also been sent in this regard to the District Magistrate Sirmaur on behalf of the District Magistrate of Dehradun.