Illegal Sand Loot Thriving in Jharkhand with Govt–Police–Mafia Nexus: Marandi

Ranchi: Jharkhand BJP president and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi on Thursday mounted a fierce attack on the Hemant Soren-led government, alleging that large-scale illegal sand mining is flourishing across the state with the active collusion of the sand mafia, police, and the state administration.

Marandi claimed that illegal sand extraction is being carried out openly from the Subarnarekha river in Jamshedpur’s Bhuiyandih area using boats. According to him, sand is filled into sacks, stockpiled along the riverbanks, and later transported to different locations.

Accusing the state government of patronising the sand mafia, Marandi said the huge illegal earnings from sand mining are the main reason the Hemant government is deliberately avoiding the implementation of the PESA Act. Questioning the chief minister’s claims of protecting tribal identity, he said a leader who fails to enforce a law meant to safeguard tribal rights has no moral authority to call himself a tribal.

Marandi alleged that despite a clear ban by the High Court on sand mining, illegal extraction continues unabated. He said while the government seeks repeated extensions from the court, it allows the mafia to exploit the public by selling sand at exorbitant prices. He termed the present dispensation a “mafia government” and alleged that this interim period has become a golden opportunity for illegal profiteering.

Throwing a direct challenge to the chief minister, Marandi said if illegal mining is not taking place with the government’s consent, Hemant Soren should immediately stop sand looting and initiate strict action against the mafia. He claimed the chief minister would be unable to do so, as the government and mafia have become mutually dependent in corruption. He alleged that Jharkhand’s natural resources are being consumed layer by layer like termites.

Calling it a tragedy for the state, Marandi said leaders who sought votes in the name of jal, jungle and zameen are now endangering Jharkhand’s natural wealth due to greed and personal interest. He remarked that while a fodder scam occurred in a neighbouring state earlier, the Hemant Soren government has gone a step further by turning sand into a major source of corruption.

Marandi further alleged that despite High Court directions, the government is deliberately seeking adjournments to delay the framing and implementation of PESA rules. He said whenever he raises these concerns, the chief minister dismisses them by claiming that the opposition talks only about sand, coal, stone and liquor.

Countering this, Marandi said when these resources are being used to generate black money and loot the state, it is natural for questions to be raised. He asserted that if his allegations are false, the chief minister should publicly disprove them with facts, adding that he is ready to accept his mistake if proven wrong. He warned that public accountability is inevitable and said that, like the fodder scam, the alleged sand scam will also have to face scrutiny one day.