Madhya Pradesh cabinet approves new sand mining policy

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved a Sand Mining Policy 2015, notifying an additional 3,000 hectares of area for quarrying to bring down market prices of sand and make it available at cheap rates. Shivraj Singh Chouhan government gave a free-will to rural inhabitants to obtain and use sand free of cost. Persons from rural areas need not purchase sand anymore.
Health minister and government spokesman Narottam Mishra explained under the new policy state mining corporation will undertake sand mining throughout all tehsils of 18 districts. "Mining corporation at present is engaged in sand mining from only 53 tehsils of those 18 districts. New policy gives corporation excavation rights in all tehsils of the districts," Mishra explained. "In the remaining 33 districts, collectors will auction sand mines through e-auction."
Corporation also will give quarrying contracts through e-auction and bidders for this process under provisions of the Sand Mining Policy will have to deposit only 10% as security deposit as against earlier 25%. "E-auction and rationalization of security deposit amount will simplify bidding process and bring transparency," Narottam Mishra said.
New policy has abolished provision which earlier prohibited another sand mine within 10 km radius sanctioned to sate mining corporation. Provision to charge royalty equal to that charged by the corporation has also been abolished as a result of which consumers will get sand at reduced price.
Though environmental clearance is still mandatory, the policy provides for optimum mining of sand in the state to bring down prices. Government argued, this will make more sand available at affordable rates in open market and bring more revenue to the exchequer.
Cabinet also sanctioned setting-up of dial 100 control rooms and command centres for prompt police assistance to people in emergency. The project which was part of the BJP government's Vision 2018 will cost Rs 632 crore, Mishra said.