In a move that is expected to curb illegal sand mining, the Ministry of Mines on Tuesday launched the ‘Sand Mining Framework’ for the States to regulate the activity.

Addressing the third National Conclave on Mines & Minerals, Minister for Mines Narendra Singh Tomar said the framework had been prepared by his Ministry on the basis of studies conducted in various States and after consultations with the National Council for Cement and Building Materials, and the Cement Manufacturers’ Association.

“The suggestions in the framework will provide a roadmap for the States, and help them frame policies to check illegal mining,” he stated.

A government official said, “A committee under the Secretary for the Ministry of Mines was formed last year to recommend these rules. The committee has studied the existing models of sand mining and regulations in 14 States.”

“Identification of sand reaches, assessment of the quality of District Survey Reports prepared by States, method of allotment of boulder quarries, quality checking norms for imported sand, sourcing of sand by major consumers and government agencies and legal aspects of semi mechanical and mechanised mining were also considered,” he added.

Tomar said the government had amended the Mineral Auction Rules 2015 in November last year to make the auction process less cumbersome and to help States auction mineral blocks quickly. “A record number of 41 mineral blocks have been put on auction within 3 months of the amendment, whereas 27 blocks were put up earlier in eight months from April to November 2017. Total estimated revenue to the State government over the lease period from the blocks already auctioned is ₹1,43,893 crore,” he said.

An official statement said that a web portal to monitor the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna (PMKKKY) was launched during the conclave. The PMKKKY is implemented from funds collected under the District Mineral Foundations, to be utilised for the development of mining-affected areas.