Rainfall inflates sand prices

The 400 mm rainfall in the city has increased the prices of sand considerably. The price of a 100 square feet sand trolley,which was Rs 1200 about 2 weeks ago have now increased to Rs 1500. However the state government at the time of auction had fixed the price of a 100 square feet trolley to Rs 750. The retailers are thus making a mockery of the prices fixed by the state government and are fleecing consumers openly. The farmers at quarry point and even the retailers in market are saying that because of rain,a shortage of sand has occurred in market,and thus they have increased the prices.

However,the contract agreement with the state government at the time of auction says that market price will not change,because the price has been fixed at Rs 750 keeping all things in consideration. Davinder Singh,a resident of Model Gram said,“The heavy rainfall last week indeed had a side effect. I am getting construction done and suddenly the sand supplier hiked the price from Rs 1200 per 100 square feet trolley to Rs 1500.

The supplier is not ready to listen to any plea and when I told that the Government can take action on him,he told me that I can contact someone else for sand supply.”