New mining policy to rationalise sand price

The State Cabinet here on Tuesday approved a sand mining policy-2015 to make available sand to the people at rational rates. The mining policy envisages that the Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation will undertake sand mining in all the tahasils of 18 districts where it is undertaking mining in only 53 tehsils at present. In the remaining 33 districts, the Collectors will auction sand mines through e-auction.

Similarly, the corporation will give contracts through e-auction from mining patta sanctioned to it for sand mining. Now, bidders for this process will have to deposit only 10 per cent instead of 25 per cent as security deposit. Security deposit will be deposited through e-payment. E-auction and rationalisation of security deposit amount will simplify the process and bring about transparency. Maximum number of people will join sand trade and new employment opportunities will be created due to this process.

The sand mining policy provides for fixing rates of sand under e-auction/e-tender process on the basis of quantity of sand available for mining.New mining policy to rationalise sand price .The new sand mining policy has abolished provision which envisaged that no other sand mine will be sanctioned within 10 km radius of mines sanctioned to Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation. Provision to charge royalty equal to that charged by the corporation has also been abolished as a result of which consumers will get sand at reduced price. Besides, provision has also been made for disposal of sand mined from dam/reservoir.

The rural people will be able to obtain sand free of cost for their own use from sand mines.  The policy has provisions for declaring maximum areas as sand mines while making environmental clearance mandatory for environmental balance so that maximum quantity of sand can be mined. This will make more sand available at affordable rates in the open market and the Government will also get more revenue.

The Cabinet also sanctioned employment process of contractual school teachers grade-I, II and III. This includes giving additional bonus marks to guest faculties in appointment. The guest faculties having worked for 200 to 399 days in a Government educational institution will be given 5 bonus marks, 400 to 599 days 10 bonus marks and 15 bonus marks to guest faculties having worked for over 600 days.

The Cabinet sanctioned revised project costing Rs 632.94 cr for setting up control room and command centre to make available prompt police assistance to people in emergency. The objective of establishment of the centre is to make available police assistance quickly to people and make police system more public-oriented and responsive. The project is included in the State's Vision Document-2018.