19 hours ago
Maharashtra rolls out round-the-clock sand transport, new measures to regulate mining
In a bid to curb illegal sand mining and ensure efficient transportation, the Maharashtra government on Thursday (July 3, 2025) announced that sand transportation will now be permitted round-the-clock across the State. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule informed the State Assembly that the move is aimed at enhancing transparency, streamlining logistics, and supporting housing beneficiaries under government welfare schemes.
Until now, sand excavation was allowed only between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., while transportation was restricted to daytime hours. This often resulted in underutilisation of capacity and prompted illegal transport activities during the night. 'To address this, the MahaKhaniij portal will now generate Electronic Transport Permits (e-TPs) 24 hours a day,' Mr. Bawankule said, responding to a question raised by Congress MLA Nana Patole during Question Hour.
Technological measures
To bolster transparency and regulatory oversight, the government has introduced several digital monitoring mechanisms. All sand depots will be geo-fenced, CCTV cameras will be installed at mining sites and along transportation routes, and GPS devices will be mandatory in all sand-carrying vehicles.
The Minister also announced that the State will soon implement a policy on manufactured sand (M-sand) to reduce pressure on natural sand reserves. Under the plan, each district will host 50 crusher units on five-acre plots, with the aim of operationalising 1,000 units in the next three months.
Free sand
In a key welfare measure, Mr. Bawankule said that five brass (a traditional unit of volume) of sand will be provided free of cost to each beneficiary under the Gharakul Yojana (government housing scheme). He added that although several sand mining sites have come under environmental restrictions since June 10 due to National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives, sand supply from locations not requiring clearance will continue uninterrupted.
The government is also preparing a new policy to address the high cost of transporting sand to housing beneficiaries. With distances between sand mines and homes often ranging from 30 to 50 km, beneficiaries are currently incurring transport costs of ₹30,000 to ₹40,000. Mr. Bawankule said a new 'Home Delivery Sand Transport Policy' is being drafted with support from the Chief Minister and the Finance Department. 'Before the end of this session, I will present a detailed plan to ensure affordable sand access for housing beneficiaries,' he said.
Public feedback
The Minister pointed out that the State's new sand policy is already generating strong economic returns. 'In Chandrapur district, the first tender floated under the revised policy yielded ₹100 crore in royalty revenue. This demonstrates the policy's economic viability in addition to its regulatory benefits,' he said.
Mr. Bawankule added that the policy was shaped after considering over 1,200 public suggestions and assured the Assembly that the government is open to further discussions on the matter.
