Delay in auction hits Jagadhri stone quarries

With the Haryana government yet to conduct fresh auctions, business has virtually come to a standstill for around 120 stone quarries and 150 screening plants in Yamunanagar district.

The mining contract for previous lessee expired on March 31 this year.

According to government officials, with model code of conduct in place, fresh auction for mining sites would not be possible till polls get over.

Yamunanagar district has 120-125 stone crushers and 150 screening plants with an annual turnover of Rs 100-120 crore.

Speaking to Business Standard, Amit Bansal of Jai Mata Stone Crusher said in the last five year, the number of screening plants and stone crushers increased manifold in the region.

Bansal said this was mainly due to spurt in infrastructure projects in areas especially north of Delhi.

The stone crushers and screening plants in the region have demanded that the sales tax of 12.5 per cent imposed on them be brought on a par with neighbouring states like Rajasthan where it was around 4 per cent.