Mumbai, April 29: In an effort to enhance transparency in the sand mining and sales process, Maharashtra’s Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced several stringent measures on Tuesday to curb illegal sand mining.
Following a cabinet decision, significant amendments have been made to the sand policy established on April 8, 2025, aimed at deploying special ‘flying squads’ to tackle the ‘sand mafia.’
Under the new government framework, special flying squads will be formed at the taluka and sub-divisional levels to monitor illegal transportation. These teams will consist of officials from the revenue department and other administrative bodies.
The minister noted that, considering the geographical conditions of the Konkan region, additional powers have been granted to officials there. Sub-divisional officers and talukadars can now take action in adjacent talukas or districts. The Maharashtra Maritime Board has been empowered to oversee sand mining in coastal and bay areas. The board will now register all boats used for sand transportation in the bays, and unregistered or illegal vessels will be seized and handed over to talukadars for legal action.
Bawankule also mentioned that regional port officials have been included in the sand monitoring committees at the district and taluka levels in Konkan.
The government has established new annual turnover criteria for individuals and entities participating in sand auctions, based on sand reserves (in brass). The turnover requirements are as follows: ₹10 lakh for up to 1,000 brass, ₹20 lakh for 1,001 to 2,000 brass, ₹1 crore for 5,001 to 10,000 brass, ₹1.5 crore for 10,001 to 15,000 brass, ₹2 crore for 15,001 to 20,000 brass, ₹3 crore for 20,001 to 25,000 brass, and ₹3.5 crore for more than 25,000 brass.
According to the minister, auctions for sand blocks in rivers and bays will now be conducted through an e-auction system, tailored to geographical conditions. The auction period has been set for one year or until the sand reserves are depleted, whichever comes first.
He added that all agreements will include a mandatory provision stating that if mining cannot occur due to unforeseen circumstances, the refund to the auction holder will be issued without interest. District collectors have been granted the authority to modify the implementation timeline in their districts, subject to approval from the departmental commissioner. This revised framework will be implemented statewide, aiming to eliminate irregularities in the sand mining industry.
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