India Friday allowed exports of specified quantities of river sand and stone aggregates to the Maldives under a bilateral trade agreement.

"Export of the quantities of river sand and stone aggregates with the annual ceiling ... has been permitted for export to the Maldives under a bilateral trade agreement between India and Maldives," directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

For 2019-20, the ceiling fixed for river sand and stone aggregates was 2 lakh tonnes and 8 lakh tonnes respectively.

It said that the export is subject to a no-objection from Chemical and Allied Export Promotion Council of India (CAPEXIL), which would monitor the ceiling and send a quarterly report to the directorate.

The council would also ensure that the suppliers/extractors have obtained appropriate clearances and mining of sand is not undertaken in the coastal regulation zone area.

Further, the export is allowed "subject to the exporter obtaining necessary environmental clearances/ no-objection certificate from the designated nodal authority of respective state governments from where the river sand is obtained," it said.

The bilateral trade between India and the Maldives have increased to USD 222.7 million in 2017-18 from USD 206.7 million in 2017-18.

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