Ranchi, Dec. 19 -- : Leader of the Opposition and Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi on Friday questioned the Hemant Soren government's delay in implementing the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), alleging that the move was linked to large-scale illegal sand mining in the state.
Marandi alleged that illegal sand mining was being carried out openly from the Subarnarekha river in the Bhuiyandih area of Jamshedpur, where sand is allegedly extracted using boats, stored in sacks along the riverbank and later transported for sale.
He claimed that despite a ban imposed by the Jharkhand High Court on sand mining, such activities were continuing unabated, with sand being sold at high prices. According to him, the government...