The Government of Maharashtra on February 16, 2024, issued a comprehensive policy regarding sand storage and online sale of sand by Govt.
The following has been stated: -
•Commercial or revenue generation is not the only objective behind issuing tenders or licenses for sand mining, but the main objective is to make sand available for development work. Also, due to the accumulation of sand in the riverbed, sand is mined to prevent flooding in the surrounding areas.
•The policy and procedure for restoring the carrying capacity of notified rivers flowing adjacent to the urban areas in the state of Maharashtra has been determined.
•The revised sand policy issued on April 21, 2023 is approved.
•Survey and determination of sand/sand groups in the bay basin to facilitate navigation in the coastal area of Maharashtra: -
Survey and determination of sand/sand groups:
1) As periodic sand/sand mining is necessary to facilitate navigation in the coastal areas of Maharashtra; the sand/sand groups should be decided by the Maharashtra Maritime Board on the basis of survey data available up to the month of "May" every year regarding sand mining at such places.
2) Prior approval of Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority will be required to be taken by the Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra Maritime Board for mechanical/dredging sand/sand mining in the Coastal Regulation Zone.
The detailed notification is given in the document attached below.
[Notification No. Goukhani-10/1123/P.No.75B-1]
