The miserable failure of the sand depot policy across the state has forced the state to roll back the auction system for sand mining. The Mahayuti government has drafted a new policy and invited suggestions/objections from people.
The sand depot policy which was introduced in 2023 could not take off due to various reasons and was reported to have made a big hole in the state revenue income. The previous policy of auctioning the sand pits was used to garner substantial revenue income to the tune of Rs3,000 crore per year. Alarmingly, the sand depot policy failed to generate any revenue income and instead, the state was made to spend Rs700 crore from its kitty, say the government sources.
The sand depot policy, according to sources, was contrary to the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act – 2014 which advocates the auction of minor minerals such as sand. The state has limited powers under this legislation that says it can make its own rules.
Sand mining has been a contentious issue across the state as it has more or less helped the proliferation of local mafias who use their muscle power to control sand mining. It is also said that the local leaders have found a unique way to establish themselves as the major players. The brazen example came from Beed district when the BJP MLA Suresh Dhas made several allegations over the sand mining and involvement of the local mafias.
In a bid to control the illegal sand mining the state now wants a system in which the auction system will be reintroduced and the successful bidder will be given authority for three years for sand mining.
Anybody can offer their views till February 7 by visiting https://mahakhanij.maharashtra.gov.in or [email protected].
Given the high demand for sand for construction activities, the state wants to introduce artificial sand usage. It will be made mandatory for state wings such as the Public Works Department (PWD), the Water Resources Department (WRD), and others to use 20% artificial sand for their construction purposes.
