Facing sharp criticism over rising prices of construction materials, the Punjab government today said efforts would be made to keep prices of sand and gravel at "affordable" level and strict measures will be put in place to curb illegal mining in the state.
"Prices of sand and gravel will be brought to a level which is affordable for the majority of people," Punjab Industries Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said here.
Claiming that the illegal mining was still going on in some parts of the state, the minister said the government was committed to put a check on it.
"Despite Punjab Government's concerted efforts to nab unscrupulous elements, this illegal trade is still going on in some parts of the state," Mittal said, adding that this illegal activity would be "crushed with iron hand".
Mittal, in a release, said a high-level meeting has been called on June 14 in Ludhiana to discuss ways and means to curb illegal mining in the state.
