Rajasthan government finalises plots for M-sand units to boost legal mining
: The state govt has finalised the delineation of 109 plots for the establishment of
manufactured sand
(M-sand) units as part of a broader push to boost legal mining and meet revenue targets.
Of these, 77 plots spread over approximately 158 hectares are earmarked for M-sand production, while 32 plots covering around 131 hectares are designated for overburden dumping. All are being prepared for e-auction.
A senior mining official said there is a need to promote legal mining to curb illegal activities. He directed officials to expedite the delineation process and accelerate auctions for both major and minor mineral blocks. "Successful auctions of 26 plots have already been conducted to enhance the availability of M-sand as an alternative to riverbed sand," he said.
Officials said the auction process for 22 major mineral blocks commenced at the beginning of the current financial year, while auctions for minor mineral plots and pending contracts are ongoing. Revenue monitoring has also been initiated early in the fiscal year.
To reduce dependence on riverbed sand, the department has launched an e-auction process for 31 M-sand manufacturing units across the state. The revised mineral and M-sand policies—released on December 4, with updated rules issued on January 3—are aimed at attracting investment and generating employment in the mining sector.
The updated policy recognises
M-sand units
as industrial entities and offers incentives under the
Rajasthan
Investment Promotion Scheme. Key changes include the removal of the three-year experience and Rs 3 crore turnover requirements.
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