In a significant move aimed at streamlining the distribution of free sand for rural housing construction, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has directed officials to ensure that royalty receipts for sand are delivered directly to the homes of beneficiaries through Group Development Officers.
The minister emphasized that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative, 30 lakh rural houses have been sanctioned for Maharashtra. The state government has adopted a policy of providing free sand for these homes. However, several complaints have emerged regarding delays and the non-availability of sand for construction.
To address this issue, Minister Bawankule instructed Tehsildars to coordinate with Group Development Officers and ensure that royalty receipts are issued and delivered to each beneficiary’s home via village development officers. He warned that Tehsildars would be held accountable if receipts are not delivered within eight days.
The directives were issued during a review meeting held at the Ministry, attended by Minister of State for Finance and Planning Ashish Jaiswal, MLA Ashish Deshmukh, and Revenue Department Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar.
As part of the government’s push for artificial sand, the state has approved 50 new crusher sites across various districts. The move aims to reduce dependency on natural sand and curb illegal mining.
Addressing the growing concern of sand theft, Bawankule commended the vigilance of revenue officials and assured them of full protection. “Attacks on officers will not be tolerated,” he said, citing a recent incident in Jalna where a Tehsildar was forced to open fire during an operation.
Under the revised Minor Mineral Policy, individuals extracting minor minerals for personal house construction must now pay royalty at the time of map approval. This is expected to tighten regulation and minimize unauthorized excavation.
Out of 140 sand depots across Maharashtra, 91 are currently operational. The minister urged continuous enforcement against illegal activities and stressed the importance of transparency in departmental functioning.
Bawankule also issued a stern warning to officials ahead of the upcoming monsoon session of the state legislature. “No revenue-related complaints should surface. If they do, disciplinary action will be taken,” he stated.
