Staff Reporter ;
REVENUE Department of Maharashtra Government has issued operating procedure
for the officials to curb illegal transport of sand from other States to Maharashtra. Accordingly, registration in MahaKhanij online portal has been made mandatory.
Citing ‘shortage’ of sand, the Government had earlier directed all the District Collectors not to ‘prohibit in which the way’ vehicles carrying sand from other States to Maharashtra. Those instructions were issued in February 2021 when the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was in power. However, now, the Mahayuti Government has come up with certain operating procedures to curb illegal transport of sand from other States to Maharashtra.
The operating procedures have several provisions, including mandatory registration in MahaKhanij online portal for the persons/firms concerned into transport of sand from other States, issue of permit only to individuals/entities that have got approval for sand ghat/sand depots, installing check-posts on State borders to check vehicles carrying sand from other States, inspection of valid permits by field officials to ascertain that necessary licenses have been issued for the sand being transported, District Collectors concerned to issue ‘zero royalty pass’ to those with valid permissions for transport of sand from other States. Such sand-laden vehicles from other States
must carry E-Transport Pass for each district in Maharashtra from which they pass through.
The land where sand from other States will be deposited, must have non-agricultural use clearance.
Importantly, the new procedures make it mandatory for the vehicles carrying sand from other States to follow the route mentioned while registering on MahaKhanij online portal. Those violating the procedures or not having ‘zero royalty passes’ while carrying sand, will have to face penal action under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code.
However, the new norms have evoked some concerns among those into quarry business. According to one office-bearer of an organisation, who preferred to be anonymous, the ‘shortage’ of sand as mentioned in the Revenue Department’s guidelines is caused solely because the sand ghat auction is not held on time every year. Usually, it must be conducted soon after the monsoon period is over.
“This is because the district administration does not obtain the Environmental Clearance (EC) from the SEAC and SEIAA immediately after the monsoon period ends every year. Time is of essence in excavation of sand from the riverbeds as it is permissible only upto June 9 every year. State Government should extend this date (June 9) till such time it actually starts raining. Moreover, the rule bars excavating sand under water,” he added.
Another quarry business insider said that the Central and State Government should direct the district administrations to apply for the EC of the sand ghats immediately after the monsoon period came to an end. He urged the Government to direct the Environment Department to grant the EC for all the sand ghats within 15 days of receipt of the application. There should be accountability in case of failure to obtain the EC on time, he added. He also wondered how could the neighbouring Chhindwara and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh obtain the EC on time every year but district administrations in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra failed to obtain the EC on time.
Modus operandi of the ‘sand mafia’
THOUGH norms and directions are issued from time to time to curb illegal extraction and transportation of sand, the ‘sand mafia’ continues operating with newer modus operandi. Besides, some in the business, on the condition of anonymity, have flagged certain issues with the new directions.
On the condition of anonymity, sources revealed to ‘The Hitavada’ that the vehicles from other States bring the first trip of sand inside Maharashtra by using the Royalty Transit Pass issued for the faraway destinations. For instance, the pass is issued for Wardha or Yavatmal districts. But, the sand trip never reaches the said destinations. Instead, the sand is unloaded at some site in Nagpur district and the vehicles return quickly to the sites in Nagpur, Bhandara and Gondia districts where the already illegally excavated sand is stored. The illegally excavated sand is then transported to the ‘desired sites’ by using the same Royalty Transit Passes issued by the neighbouring States.
Besides, there is problem with even the new operating procedures prescribed by Maharashtra Government, said a source. According to the source, under the Maharashtra Minor Mineral Extraction Rules, 2013 (amended upto 2020), no person other than a Quarry Permit or Quarry Lease Holder can stock and sell the minor minerals in any place in the State except under a dealer’s licence issued under the seal and signature of the Competent Officer. And, the permission for storing and stocking of sand under the dealer’s license is flawed as it can be issued only if the minerals are excavated in the same district. If this is the law, then how can the officials now issue ‘Zero Royalty Passes’ to vehicles carrying sand from other States, asked the source in the know of things.
Moreover, the Zero Royalty Passes or Secondary Royalty Transit Passes or ‘Badli Pass’ are basically issued against the Primary Royalty Transit Passes. There is no method or system to check the authenticity of the Online Royalty Transit Passes issued by the neighbouring State, said the source. Minor minerals excavated in neighbouring States can be transported to any site in India on the basis of the Primary Royalty Transit Pass issued by the State concerned. But the mineral cannot be stocked and later sold in the State under the dealer’s licence.
As far as installing check-posts is concerned, Maharashtra will incur expenses on such posts and placement of checking staff and staff members for issuing the ‘Zero Royalty Passes’. Earlier, the State Government was charging 10% of the Royalty Transit Passes, that is, Rs 60/- per brass for this, but the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, through its order, directed the State Government not to collect the same. For issue of secondary Royalty Transit Passes, dealer’s license. etc. for the royalty generated in the neighbouring State, the State Government will incur huge expenses for deploying Revenue Department staff for this purpose.