JAIPUR: Expectations of the residents from the new Congress government have dashed as the bajri prices (riverbed sand) continue to remain skyrocket in the state capital. Even after change in regime, buyers must pay Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 to buy a truck that cost just around Rs 14,000 one-and-half years ago.During the state assembly elections, the Congress government had alleged that the BJP was hand-in-glove with the mining mafia thriving under the bajri ban and the government is not keen to lift the ban which has left lakhs of people jobless in the construction sector. Congress also attacked that the BJP’s failure to convince the Supreme Court was deliberate and mischievous.Affected parties who were hopeful things would change have now started pointing fingers on the functioning of the new government. It has also been alleged that quantum of illegal mining has increased manifolds as compare to last government. Bajri Truck Operators Welfare Society Naveen Sharma said, “If state government wants, the ban can be lifted in one month. At present, the number of trucks involved in illegal trade have increased.”Last year, on November 17, the apex court had stayed all 82 large sand mine lease/quarry holders from mining sand and ‘bajri’ till the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) submitted a scientific replenishment study. The order followed a special leave petition filed by sand mine quarry lease holders against an adverse high court order of October 21, 2013.A source at mining department said, “The MoEF had directed the lease holders to demarcate the mining area and identify the level of cross-section. Lease holders have been recommended to carry out mining in the area as per availability of reserve. Replenishment study of all sand mine leases in Banas River are submitted in the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF). However, as lease are been cancelled, the department is not signing the report,”With no immediate relief over ban on sand mining from the apex court, middle income groups have postponed construction of their houses. Kalyan Singh , resident of Vaishali said, “Bajri is an essential part for construction. As there is disruption in supply, I have cancelled my plan to construct a house. Even buying bajri from black market is a risky affair and I don’t want to take law in my hands.”

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