Maharashtra looking for alternatives to sand mining

The Maharashtra government is looking for alternatives to the natural sand that is mined from river beds, in view of the sand shortage, and environmental damage caused by excavation.

"Sand is necessary for construction, and the Revenue Department is contemplating various options like producing it artificially from stones, etc," revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat said.

The government was also deliberating on whether to allow import of sand from other states, Thorat said.

Last year, the Bombay high court had stayed sand mining from river beds across the state as government had failed to formulate policy on allotment of mining licences.

Later, after the state produced a draft-policy, the high court revoked the stay.

But  the court put in some ecological safeguards. Among other things, it said that excavation can not be deeper than 2 metres from the river-bed.

The policy also makes permission of local bodies such as gram-sabha mandatory for the mining.

On one hand, there are reports of severe damage to several rivers in the state due to indiscriminate sand mining. On the other hand, explosive growth in construction in Mumbai and other cities is leading to insatiable need for sand.

Currently, the government has identified 4834 sites for sand mining, of which 3785 have been approved, and 1006 have been auctioned, the minister had said in the ongoing budget session of the state legislature.