Port Blair, Feb 27: Highlighting some genuine problems being faced by the common men, general public, unemployed registered societies, and SSI units in Andaman & Nicobar Islands due to the high cost of quarry materials, the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma has requested the Lt. Governor to resolve the problem.
In a letter he mentioned that prior to 2019, stone quarry materials were available locally at nominal rates. General public and construction units used to purchase it from local stone material vendors who were allowed to extract it at different slots in terms of permission granted by the Administration, on payment of royalty imposed on it.
The Member of Parliament added that after the implementation of a new policy by the government, the cost of stone quarry materials has increased substantially on account of transportation costs, etc., due to importing it from neighbouring countries/mainland states.
He pointed out that in order to provide livelihood to workers involved in these sectors, the Administration had earlier allowed allotting 37 stone quarries in the South Andaman. However, the number of stone quarries that existed prior to 2012 has been decreasing year to year since 2012 to 2022, and as a result, only 11 stone quarries as of now are allowed to extract it at different locations.
He said that as a result, a large number of workers depending on these sectors directly and indirectly are losing their jobs, and the government has also sustained heavy financial loss on account of the bid and royalty amount imposed on it.
He mentioned that due to the reducing allotment of stone quarries year to year (i.e., from 39 to 11), there is an acute shortfall for production of mine products, resulting in a demand for the supply of stone quarry materials. Hence, the poor people, including Registered societies run by unemployed youths in construction works, semi-construction units, etc., are suffering badly to undertake any construction works of dwelling/commercial purpose for their livelihood, despite certain incentives/loans/schemes provided by the government for their livelihood.
Additionally, he added that prior to year 2019, the lease period of the quarries was fixed for three years, but it is now reduced to its validity up to one year only. For getting renewal of the further lease period of one year, it takes at least 3 to 4 months for completing prerequisite formalities for renewal.
“Hence, until the lease period is extended before completion of its validity, the operation of the stone quarry gets suspended for such a period, which is creating another problem to supply the materials to the general public, including construction units,” he added.
In view of the above problems being faced by the general public and construction units/societies run by unemployed youths, the Member of Parliament requested to restore the total number of stone quarries (37) that then existed and now reduced to 11 numbers, so that there would not be a shortage of stone materials for construction purposes at cheaper rates than the cost of materials imported from outside.
The Member of Parliament also requested to enhance the lease period of the stone quarry to the extent of three years, as it was existing earlier instead of one year (now existing), and the procedures adopted for renewal of the lease may be simplified.
