Intending to end stalemate continuing over sand mining in the State, the Government on Thursday laid out clear guidelines until proper auctions for sand ghats are done. The decision in this regard has been taken to stop adverse effects taking place on construction and other developmental activities. The fresh guidelines say that gram panchayats and municipal corporations would operate sand ghats under their jurisdictions as per the rules set by the Government. Vehicles used for transportation of the material would have to be registered with district mining officer without any charge.
labourers falling under the panchayat or corporation can only be deployed for lifting sand and no machine can be used for the purpose. The local bodies would get royalty at the rate fixed by DC and they would have to issue receipt against all the money. The transporters would charge the money with end users depending on the distance and approved by the DC and they would have to get receipt from the end users that would have to be submitted at office of panchayat or municipality. Then only the transporter can lift next consignment of sand. All the vehicles deployed in the work would be marked with names of related panchayat, river, sand ghat and driver along with route chart of the particular vehicle.
No sand mining can be done within 50 meter distance of any river bridge or other permanent structure neither beneath the water level. Entire stock with any sand dealer has to be disposed within 48 hours at the rate fixed to the end users otherwise the stock would be seized by the mining officer. Hording of sand has been made illegal. The mechanism would be in place until the auction process is complete by panchayat and UlB or till July 12, 2015, whichever is earlier.