This story is from December 18, 2014

Maharashtra lifts ban on sand mining

The state on Thursday announced lifting of a ban on sand mining in Konkan’s eco-sensitive zones, which may lead to a better pace of construction and cheaper pricing in Mumbai’s real estate. However, activists warned that this may reactivate and strengthen the sand mafia to exploit nature, the realty sector and ultimately common buyers and investors
Maharashtra lifts ban on sand mining
MUMBAI: The state on Thursday announced lifting of a ban on sand mining in Konkan’s eco-sensitive zones, which may lead to a better pace of construction and cheaper pricing in Mumbai’s real estate. However, activists warned that this may reactivate and strengthen the sand mafia to exploit nature, the realty sector and ultimately common buyers and investors.
Revenue and agriculture minister Eknath Khadse told the state legislative assembly during question hour that he had been informed by Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar about the Centre restricting the ban on mining to only 30% of the eco-sensitive zone.

“We have permitted stone and sand mining in the region,” he said to a query by legislators objecting to heavy sand mining beyond permissible limits.
Khadse said rights to distribute royalty through auctioning of mines were with chief ministers, but the government was thinking of giving them back to guardian ministers.
Last year, the state had conducted 2,016 raids on illegal sand mining businesses and had arrested over 4,085 people. Sand worth over Rs 45 crore had been seized.
Government officials said e-auctioning and thorough scrutiny of mines would control illegal mining.
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About the Author
Chittaranjan Tembhekar

An assistant editor (infrastructure) at The Times of India, Mumbai, Chittaranjan been covering institutions involved in providing urban infrastructure, power and telecom services for seven years.

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