MPDA's scope to be expanded to bring sand mafia within ambit

The Maharashtra government officially announced here today that it will expand the scope of the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (MPDA) to bring the sand mafia, as well as smugglers and hoarders of essential commodities within its ambit.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi said that the cabinet's nod to promulgate an ordinance to amend the MPDA would be sent to the President of India through the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
"We will dispatch the ordinance to the President of India after the Maharashtra Governor's approval. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs will be informed that the Maharashtra state government is of the view that assaults and killings have been reported in cases of illegal sand mining and hence there is a need to take such a step," Bakshi said.

Bakshi said that district magistrates in rural areas and police commissioners in urban areas have been empowered to preventively detain as well as arrest those involved in smuggling sand and hoarding essential commodities, without any formalities.
"Within 12 days, district magistrates and police commissioners have to report such cases to the home secretary. Similarly, in 21 days, such cases will be heard by an advisory board comprising a sitting high court judge as well as two retired judges who would assist him. The police and the detainee will be summoned before the board," Bakshi said.
He said that if the board upheld the detention, the accused will be detained for one year from the day of arrest. The board will act as a fast track court in such matters, he said.

"If the board ruled against the detention, the government will release the concerned person immediately," he said.