Stringer...............Bhat Shahzad Location...............Bandipora 1809ZS_BPR_MINERAL_R Bandipora sand row resolved, outside drivers barred: DMO Anchor:-District Mineral Officer of Bandipora, Ghulam Nabi Pinto, today said while speaking to the media that the long-standing dispute between sand sellers and local tipper drivers has been largely resolved. It is worth mentioning that a few days ago, nearly one hundred tipper drivers from Bandipora staged a protest, alleging that sand sellers were charging them higher prices while preferring to sell sand at higher rates to drivers from other districts, especially Srinagar. This, they claimed, was badly affecting their livelihood. Following the protest, the District Development Commissioner of Bandipora took immediate action by calling both parties in the presence of the District Mineral Officer and resolving the issues. A formal written agreement was also obtained from both sides. In this regard, the District Mineral Officer of Bandipora shared details today, stating that not only have strict instructions been issued to sell sand at fixed rates, but for now, drivers from other districts have also been barred from lifting sand from here. He added that further steps will be taken to streamline the district’s mining-related issues. Byte: District Mineral Officer Bandipora, Ghulam Nabi Panto