RSMM scam: Limestone haulage halts, no action taken on guilty

Jaipur: At a time when the Model Code of Conduct was in place in the state a big scam has come to light in Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited (RSMM). The work of limestone transportation and loading in railway wagons has almost come to a standstill for the last four months, in the limestone unit of RSMM, in Jaisalmer.

Due to this RSMM, Railways and the state government have suffered a revenue loss of crores of rupees. Despite this, no action is being taken due to alleged collusion with he contractor.

The contract for limestone transportation and loading into railway wagons from Sonu Mines to Railway Siding Sonu at RSMM’s Unit was awarded to M/s United Coal Carriers Limited on July 17 for three years. As per the terms of the contract, the contractor was to start the work within 30 days and complete the target of transportation and railway wagon loading of 3 lakh 75000 metric tonnes per month but the contractor started the work after 75 days, on October 8 thus failing to reach the target. Now the transportation work is being done under police protection.

It may be noted that for the last 30 years, the people of the villages around Sonu Mines have been using their trucks for transportation work. The contractor has taken away employment of the locals and wants the transportation done via his trucks. Due to this, about 350 trucks have been standing here for the last three-and-a-half months.

On his part, the contractor is unable to put to use his trucks properly and due to this the steel production is on the verge of collapse as limestone from Sonu Mines is transported to various steel plants in the country.

The contractor has transported only 1 lakh 48402 tonnes thus causing a revenue loss of 13 lakh 26000 tonnes thus causing huge loss to Railways, RSMM and the stategovernment.