To curb illegal mining and regulate stone crushing activities, the Maharashtra government has decided that permissions for stone crushers will now be issued through district collector offices.
State revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the government has withdrawn the authority previously held by tehsil-level officials and local representatives to grant approvals for stone crushers and mining operations.
“Permissions will now be issued only by district collectors,” he said.
The move comes amid rapid urban expansion in Pune, where rising construction activity has led to a surge in stone crushers across the district. Authorities have also faced allegations of corruption and illegal mining in several parts of the state. In this context, the government has opted to replace the earlier decentralised system with a more centralised approval process at the district level to improve oversight and transparency.
Previously, taluka-level officers were authorised to grant permissions for crushing between 500 and 2,000 brass per day. However, following increasing complaints and reports of irregularities, the state has revoked these powers.