Weigh bridges, CCTVs made amust to curb illegal sand mining

Nagpur: The state government has made weigh bridges and CCTVs mandatory to curb illegal sand mining, damage to village roads and environment pollution. Also, the period of sand mining lease has been extended to five years from the existing norm of one year.
As per the directives of the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, the state government has framed new guidelines for sand mining, transportation and sale for the entire state. The state’s revenue and forest department issued a notification regarding the new guidelines on September 3. The government will place the guidelines before the HC and implement them accordingly.
The government has made it mandatory for the district administration to reserve sand ghats for the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation (MSMC) headquartered in the city. It is also likely to bring in healthy competition in sand sale and stop the monopoly of a few lease holders. It will be for the first time that the government’s agency will come into sand mining and sale. The chances of reduction in prices of sand too cannot be ruled out with this move.
Some PILs have been filed in HC alleging destruction to environment, rampant illegal sand mining and huge revenue loss to the government. During the hearing on December 7, 2018, the HC had directed the government to frame new guidelines and submit them in the first week of May. Later, the HC had extended the deadline.
The government has revised guidelines to a great extent. For years, the government has been giving lease of sand ghats with estimated quantum finalized by a team of the district administration. There is no provision to measure the exact quantum of sand excavated. It resulted in regular allegations of sand mining much more than the leased out quantum and destruction to river bed as well.
Under the new guidelines, the government made it mandatory for the district administration to allow sand transportation through a single road from ghats and install weigh bridges on the road which will give the exact quantum of sand excavated.
The government also made it mandatory for lease holders to install CCTVs at sand ghats, depots where sand is stored on the river’s bank and also on the road from where it is transported. Lease holders will have to submit the live footage at the office of the divisional commissioner, the collector and the state’s revenue and forest department. The lease holders will also have to submit the CCTV footages to the office of the Tehsildar once in 15 days.
Also, to curb illegal sand mining and bring in competition, the government has increased the lease period of sand mining to five years from the existing norm of one year. Area of each sand ghat will be five hectares.
Nagpur district officials told TOI that the increase in the lease period will help in curbing illegal sand mining and entry to big players. “Sand mining is not allowed during monsoon from June 10 to September 30. Thus, lease holders get eight months. It encourages illegal sand mining also during monsoon as lease holders try to excavate as much sand possible. Due to short term lease, big players avoid taking the lease. All these problems will be solved,” he said.
All ghats will require permission from the environment department before the auction. The government has made it mandatory for the district administration to appoint an Accredited Environment Consultant who will prepare a plan, seek approval from the environment department and monitor the works in respect to environment conservation.
The government has asked the district administration to explore the possibilities of excavating sand with mud from river beds and sand from dams. It may create a controversy as most of the dams are situated in the forest area and approaches from small villages.