Rajasthan finalises action plan for M-sand plot auctions to curb illegal mining

The Hindu

17-05-2025

In a significant policy move aimed at streamlining construction material supply and curbing illegal mining, the Rajasthan government has finalised an action plan for delineating and auctioning plots designated for manufactured sand (M-sand) units. The decision follows the State's recognition of M-sand units as an industry, extending them official status to encourage investment and development.
Principal Secretary (Mines) T. Ravikanth announced on Saturday (May 17, 2025) that 109 plots have been identified under the plan. Of these, 77 plots spanning a total of 158 hectares are earmarked for M-sand units, while 32 overburden dumping plots covering 131 hectares will also be prepared for e-auction. Notably, 26 plots have already been successfully auctioned, aimed at increasing the supply of M-sand for the construction sector.
The initiative marks a strategic shift in response to a 2017 Supreme Court directive that imposed a ban on riverbed sand (commonly known as bajri) mining in Rajasthan. The top court had ordered a scientific replenishment study and subsequent clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests before any resumption of mining activities. A Central Empowered Committee (CEC) was subsequently constituted to examine the issue of illegal sand extraction.
The court's intervention had led to a sharp decline in the availability of legally mined riverbed sand, resulting in a spike in prices and the emergence of a sand mining mafia operating in defiance of environmental norms. Though environmental clearance was eventually granted to 60 mining zones in 2022, the lag in supply had already hampered several infrastructure projects across the State.
The new policy on M-sand, which seeks to reduce reliance on riverbed resources, is expected to ease supply bottlenecks and bolster environmental safeguards. It enables investors to establish M-sand units while availing themselves of State-backed incentives and infrastructural support. Officials say the move is also expected to instil public confidence in the quality and utility of M-sand for construction.
Addressing officials at a departmental review meeting held at Khanij Bhawan, Mr. Ravikanth emphasised that promotion of legal mining is key to checking illegal extraction activities. He directed the Mines Department to expedite the delineation and auction of mineral plots, including both major and minor categories.
In addition, Mr. Ravikanth said that efforts are under way to identify new revenue sources for the department and plug existing leakages. He noted that the auction process for 22 major mineral blocks had already commenced at the beginning of the current financial year.