In a move that is expected to curb illegal sand mining, the Ministry of Mines on Tuesday launched the ‘Sand Mining Framework’ to regulate the same. Speaking at the third National Conclave on Mines & Minerals, Minister for Mines, Narendra Singh Tomar, said the sand mining framework prepared by the Ministry of Mines was based on studies conducted on sand mining in states and after consultations with institutions such as the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM), and the Cement Manufactures’ Association (CMA), among others.

He said, “The suggestions in the framework will provide the states a roadmap to help them frame their policies and act as a check on illegal mining of sand.” A private mining company official present at the meeting said, “These guidelines are indicative in nature. Since mining is a state subject, it will be up to them to define the rules for the same.”

Tomar also said the government amended the Mineral Auction Rules 2015 in November last year to make the mines auction process less cumbersome and to help states auction mineral blocks quickly. “A record 41 mineral blocks have been put on auction within three months of the amendment, whereas 27 blocks were put up for auction earlier in the eight months from April to November 2017. The 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 a web portal to monitor the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna (PMKKKY) was also launched during the conclave. The PMKKKY has been implemented out of funds collected under the District Mineral Foundations (DMF) to be utilised for the welfare and development of the mining affected areas. Over ₹17,000 crore have been collected under PMKKKY and 56,000 projects launched, the statement added.

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