New policy to identify 'more' sand mining areas in Madhya Pradesh

The new sand mining policy of Madhya Pradesh focuses on identifying "more sand mining areas" to ensure it is available at reasonable rates even as illegal sand mining has become hot potato in the state after the death of a constable last week.

The new sand mining policy of Madhya Pradesh focuses on identifying "more sand mining areas" to ensure it is available at reasonable rates even as illegal sand mining has become hot potato in the state after the death of a constable last week.

The authorities in the state are at present working on the modalities for the implementation of the new policy.

Under the new policy, sand will become the first mineral to be e-auctioned.

For the first time, the new policy will also focus on the "disposal of sand extracted from the dams, reservoirs, lakes and canals", which can be used by respective government departments or agencies or e-auctioned by the state government.

Under the new policy, the provision that no other sand mine to be sanctioned within 10 km of the mines to the Madhya Pradesh Mining Corporation has been abolished. Besides, rural people will be able to obtain sand from mines for free.

It is learnt that the changes will ensure that more people in the state join the sand mining trade.

Even as the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government approved the sand mining policy in the first week of March, the authorities are preparing ground for its implementation these days.

According to the government's own statement, the "new policy has provisions for declaring maximum areas as sand mines while making environmental clearance mandatory for environmental balance so that maximum quantity of sand can be mined. This will make more sand available at affordable rates in open market and the government will also get more revenue".

Authorities maintain that the e-auction and rationalisation of security deposit amount would simplify process and bring about transparency.

Mining secretary Sheo Shekhar Shukla told HT that the new policy envisages identifying more sand mining areas in the state to ensure availability of sand to people at reasonable price.

"Apart from ensuring transparency in the allotment of sand mines, the new policy will also ensure employment to more people as more people will be able to join the sand mining trade in the state," he said.

The Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation will undertake sand mining in all tehsils of 18 districts as compared to 53. The 18 districts include Barwani, Hoshangabad, Sehore, Raisen, Harda, Dewas, Gwalior, Bhind, Datia, Dhar, Khargone and Khandwa.

Sand mines will be e-auctioned in the remaining 33 districts. The mining corporation will give contracts through e-auction from mining patta sanctioned to it.

Simplifying sand mining process

In 33 districts, there are 586 approved sand mines spread over 4,537 hectares will be auctioned by the collector

There are 449 approved sand mines spread 4,317 hectares in 18 districts, which will be auctioned by State Mining Corporation

Under the new policy, sand will become the first mineral to be e-auctioned

E-auction will simplify process and bring about transparency

It is learnt that the changes will ensure that more people in the state join the sand mining trade

The provision that no other sand mine to be sanctioned within 10 km of the mines to the Madhya Pradesh Mining Corporation has been abolished.