Mining policy: Cong threatens to stall assembly proceedings

The Congress had decided to corner the government on its mining policy on the floor of the House in the upcoming winter session, Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Sunil Jakhar told a party rally here

"The cartel engaged in illegal mining has patronage of the powers that be," he said.

"This has led to sky-rocketing of prices of sand and gravel making it beyond the reach of common man thus hitting construction of houses in the state," Jakhar said.

"We want the government to clear its stand on mining before December 15, days before the assembly session begins.

"In case, the government fails to do so we will stall proceedings of the House," Jakhar said.

He said the government had given an assurance during the last session that it would formulate a comprehesive policy on mining to enable people buy sand and gravel at affordable prices.

"On the contrary, sand has become even more costlier. In case of bricks, the cartel owning brick kilns in Punjab has jacked up prices and the government is unable to regulate the prices," the Congress leader said.

Attacking the SAD-BJP government, Jakhar alleged the state government was implicating Congress workers in false cases and the law and order in the state was deteriorating.

He alleged the state government was misutilising Central funds.