FARIDKOT – The Punjab government’s newly launched “Jisda Khet Usdi Ret” (Whose Field, Their Sand) scheme has dramatically affected the market, leading to a steep 30–35 per cent fall in sand prices across the region within just two weeks.
The initiative, designed to help farmers clean sand and silt left by recent floods on their agricultural land, has caused a surge in supply. Retail sand prices have dropped from ₹90–₹95 per quintal to ₹60–₹62 per quintal, while wholesale prices plummeted from ₹75–₹80 to ₹45–₹47 per quintal. Most of the supply is currently originating from flood-affected districts such as Fazilka, Ferozepur, and Moga.
Under the scheme, flood-hit landowners are allowed to de-silt their land without obtaining any permit or No-Objection Certificate (NOC). This exemption is valid until December 31, 2025, and is intended solely for land restoration.
Misuse and Enforcement
However, the authorities have detected misuse of the relaxation. Deputy Commissioner Moga Sagar Setia clarified that the relaxation was strictly for rehabilitating farmlands, not for commercial mining, and warned against creating trenches in the process.
On Sunday, the Mining Department and the Moga Police apprehended four individuals who were illegally extracting sand from an approved commercial mining site under the guise of the scheme’s land restoration terms. A case was registered against the violators at the Dharamkot police station. DC Setia has since directed Sub-Divisional Magistrates to ensure that no unauthorized extraction occurs beyond the notified fields, stating that any violation will be treated as illegal mining.