The Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) has raised serious concern over the skyrocketing sand rates across Nagpur and Vidarbha, urging Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis to immediately intervene and curb cartel-like operations that appear to be manipulating sand supply and pricing.
VTA also dispatched a memorandum to Deputy Chief & Revenue Minister Ajit Pawar, Guardian Minister of Nagpur Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar.VTA President Shrawan Kumar Malu stated that sand prices have risen abnormally by 200% to 300% in recent weeks, creating severe disruption in the construction and housing sectors.
“While heavy monsoon rains earlier disrupted supply, the situation now defies logic; there is no rainfall, yet prices remain exorbitantly high. It clearly indicates that some cartel is operating to maintain artificial scarcity,” Malu said.
Tejinder Singh Renu, VTA secretary said, due to this unjustified surge, builders and developers have been forced to halt construction activities, while government contractors are struggling to meet project deadlines.
The association warned that the ultimate burden will fall on the common citizen, as the inflated sand rates will directly push up housing and infrastructure costs.
VTA has urged the State Government to deploy enforcement agencies to track and penalise those responsible for manipulating sand supply and prices.
“The construction sector is the backbone of employment and economic growth. If such exploitation continues unchecked, it will severely affect development and citizen welfare,” Renu added.
The Association appealed to the Government to take swift, exemplary action against those creating artificial shortages, ensuring fair availability and pricing of sand for all legitimate users.
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