DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 6 (MExN): Reacting to a recent statement from sand stockists and transporters, the Sand Mahaldar Welfare Society (SMWS) of Bakalia, Karbi Anglong maintained that it was not responsible for hiking the price of construction sand in Dimapur.
On the contrary, the SMWS held that it was the Sand Mahaldar and Supplier’s Association (SMSA) and Sand Stockist and Suppliers Union Dimapur (SSSUD), which jointly raised the rate to Rs 42 per cubic foot (cft) in 2019. It also accused the SSSUD of collecting Rs 5000 per truck as “lorry challan,” which it claimed was on behalf of “underground party.”
It further said that the “sand mahaldar of down stream” had a meeting with the Assam Sand Supplier Truck Owner Association in Dimapur, wherein it was allegedly decided to continue with the old rate of Rs 32 per cft, which the SMWS said, is still being applied.
It reminded that the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council had issued a regulation earlier in September limiting sand haulage to 10 cubic metre per truck within Karbi Anglong. While stating that overloading is prohibited, it reminded that carrying of any forest produce is prohibited within Karbi Anglong after 5:00 PM till 5:00 AM the next day.
It further maintained that the SMWS “did not take any tax or will never take; we are only taking the prices of sand which is 400 cft x Rs 32 = Rs 12,800, and moreover, we are only following the rules and regulations provided by the KAAC and all the concerned authority in the district.”
