HC lifts stay on sand mining in Maharashtra

The high court here lifted its month-old stay on sand mining in Maharashtra today. However, its order said such mining would be permissible only up to two metres and in case of violation, a non-bailable offence is to be registered.

Besides, the state government has assured the HC that it would heed the latter’s various suggestions on the subject. For instance, the HC suggested the mining be closed for a day every fortnight and the government should collate the excavattions. Further, the government should formulate mining rules by appointing an experts’ committee.

In fact, the HC order came after the state government issued a notification on a new sand mining policy, which incorporates safeguards. The new policy says plots for mining on the a river bed cannot be auctioned unless the village council (gram sabha) sanctions it. However, there is a provision to appeal against a gram sabha’s refusal.

The stay was in place since September 23. Due to it, realty development across the state had come to a halt. The state government had pleaded for revocation of the stay, saying the construction industry was suffering. Nearly 600 million tonnes is the annual requirement of sand for realty development.

Sunil Mantri, president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry, told Business Standard: “I welcome the high court decision. A large number of realty projects were put on hold due to the stay. I also thank the chief minister and revenue minister for the state government’s new sand mining policy, which takes care of environment issues and simultaneously helps meet the demand of sand of the realty sector.”

A state government official also welcomed the HC order. He said: “Had the stay been not lifted, the government would have lost revenue of Rs 1,000 crore on account of royalty.”