Mann Cabinet approves Punjab Crusher Policy 2023 to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to consumers

Published on: 29 Jul 2023 at 04:37 PM

Published by: The fact news

The Fact News Service

Chandigarh, July 29

In order to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to the consumers, besides ensuring its adequate supply in the state, the Cabinet also gave go-ahead to Punjab Crusher Policy 2023.

As per the policy, there will be two main classes of Crusher Units namely Commercial Crusher Units (CCU) and Public Crusher Units (PCU) adding that screening-cum-washing plants will also fall under the category of Crushers Units.

A Public Crusher Unit shall be a registered Crusher Unit selected through a transparent -tendering process prescribed under the Punjab Transparency in public Procurement Act and based on the lowest mineral price (inclusive of loading charges and not exceeding the CSP), quoted by such a Crusher Unit.

The Government shall, from time to time, notify a price, called the “Crusher Sale Price” (CSP), beyond which no Mineral shall be sold by any Crusher Unit.

CSP shall include the cost of mineral, transportation from mining site to the crusher unit, processing charges and profit and loading of mineral onto any permitted class of transportation vehicles. An online portal system shall be developed by the Department of Mines and Geology to register the crusher unit.

The crusher owners shall register their units themselves through online portal mode prepared by the Department and crusher owner may, if it so desires, participate in the bids for Commercial Mining Units under the Punjab State Minor Mineral Policy, 2023.

The primary objective of the policy is to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to the consumers and to ensure adequate supply of sand and gravel in the State, through appropriate market interventions by the Government.

GIVES GO AHEAD TO AMENDMENTS IN PUNJAB MINOR MINERALS RULES 2013 TO CURB THE MENACE OF ILLEGAL MINING

The Cabinet also approved amendments in Punjab Minor Minerals Rules 2013 to curb the menace of illegal mining and to increase the supply of minor minerals in the state.

As the state government has notified, the Punjab Minor Mineral Policy, 2023 on March 13 this year so certain modifications in existing rules were required with regard to allocation of contracts to concessionaires and Public Mining sites.

These amendments, aimed at making policy more efficient, pertains to definitions and installments of annual concession amount, Public mining sites, terms and conditions of surrender of concession for mining sites and agreement Form L-1 in the Punjab Minor Minerals Rules 2013.