Maharashtra Allows 24x7 Sand Transport, Plans Free Sand And Home Delivery For Housing Scheme Beneficiaries

Mumbai: In a move aimed at curbing illegal sand transportation, Maharashtra's Revenue Minister, ChandraShekhar Bawankule, informed the State Assembly that sand transportation across the state would now be allowed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This decision is part of a broader effort to reduce accidents caused by illegal sand mining and improve transparency in sand transportation.

Bawankule was replying on the issue raised by Congress MLA Nana Patole in the state assembly 

"Currently, sand excavation is permitted only from 6 AM to 6 PM. However, sand stored during the day couldn't be transported at night, leading to inefficient use of transportation capacity and promoting illegal sand transportation. To address this, the government has introduced a 24-hour ETP (Electronic Transfer Permit) system through the Mahakhanij portal." Said Bawankule.

The government has also introduced several measures to ensure transparency in sand transportation. Every sand mine will now be geofenced, and CCTV cameras will be installed at mining sites and transportation routes. Additionally, all vehicles transporting sand will be required to install GPS devices.

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To meet the growing demand for sand while protecting natural reserves, the government has decided to implement an artificial sand policy. Plans include establishing 50 crusher units in every district, with each unit requiring 5 acres of land. The target is to set up 1000 crusher units within the next three months.

Free Sand for Beneficiaries Under Housing Scheme

As part of the government’s support to the housing scheme beneficiaries, Bawankule confirmed that 5 brass (a unit of sand) will be provided free of charge to each beneficiary under the "Gharakul Yojana" (Housing Scheme). Despite environmental restrictions that have been imposed on some sand mines after June 10, sand supply for housing projects will not be interrupted if environmental clearance is not required at those locations.

Bawankule also highlighted that the newly implemented sand policy has already shown positive results. Referring to the Chandrapur district as an example, he noted that the first tender under the new policy had generated Rs 100 crore in royalty for the state, making it beneficial from an economic perspective as well.

The State Assembly has agreed to hold discussions on the new sand policy. Minister Bawankule confirmed that the government is open to further discussions at any time. The final policy was shaped after considering more than 1,200 public suggestions.

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Another important issue raised was the transportation of sand to the homes of housing scheme beneficiaries. Bawankule explained that the cost of transporting sand—ranging between Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 which is too high for most beneficiaries. With many sand mines located 30–50 km away, transporting sand becomes an expensive burden. In response, the government, with the help of the Chief Minister and Finance Department, is working on a new ‘Home Delivery Sand Transport Policy’.

"Before the end of this session, I will present a clear plan regarding the delivery of sand to the homes of beneficiaries. The aim is to make it as easy and affordable as possible for them to access sand for their homes."  Bawankule assured the assembly.