Chhattisgarh government on Thursday issued guidelines to sand mines which will be auctioned by a committee headed by respective district collector.
This comes a day after the state Cabinet decided to auction the mines.
The lease holders will be selected on the basis of reverse bidding.
Panchayat or civic bodies will get equal to maximum 25% hike, as compared to last 5 years, in annual royalty from the next financial year.
As per guidelines issued by mining department, the selection of lease holder of mines will be done on the basis of reverse bidding (minimum per square metre) against the highest specified value (ceiling price). The period of agreement is of two years, which when required can be further extended to one year.
The District Level Committee chaired by district collector, will earmark a sand mine which has received environmental clearance and such adjacent sand mines will be earmarked as a cluster based on geographical conditions and single outlet route for transportation. The ceiling price of cluster will be fixed by the panel.
The mines lease owner will have to deposit the difference amount of ceiling price and minimum auction amount of reverse bidding. The existing panchayat and civic bodies run sand mines will be transferred to reverse bidder. The sand transportation vehicles will have to be registered online in departmental portal. The rate of transportation will also be fixed. Those customers requiring less amount of sand will have to procure it from traders. The traders dealing with sand will also be registered online through departmental portal.
To control illegal mining and transportation, special flying squads will be deputed. If any vehicle is caught three times for illegal transportation, then its registration will be cancelled and stern action will be taken.
State government hopes that the new arrangement will help to conserve the rivers and water sources and the consumers will get sand at affordable price. Additional to it, state government will get additional revenue through DMF, environment and infrastructure sub-tax, auction amount, stamp and registration fees on agreement of mine lease.