The day-to-day disputes over exorbitant prices of sand/gravel excavated from riverbeds is expected to end soon, as the mineral department is about to fix the rates. For this, estimated rates have been sought from the mining engineers of each district.
Engineers of the mineral department of Tonk have sent their estimated rates to Jaipur. If the government gives its nod, people of Jaipur will get sand at the rate of Rs 1,050 to Rs 1,100 per tonne. At present, sand is available in Jaipur for Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300 per tonne.
As bajri (riverbed sand/gravel) continues to be expensive in the state, stakeholders in the construction industry and ordinary people building their own houses/structures had demanded that the government control the price.
An official said that the proposed rate of gravel has been sent to the office of the mineral department in Udaipur. As per the proposal, selling price of sand has been kept at Rs 550, which includes royalty, District Mineral Foundation Trust and Rajasthan State Mineral Exploration Trust charges.
On this, 5 percent SGST and CGST (Rs 27 each) will be charged separately. The cost of loading and maintenance of river routes has been kept at Rs 125 per tonne, while Rs 350 to Rs 400 per tonne will be spent on transportation.