The Maharashtra Government will announce a new policy for mining of sand and minor minerals next month, said Mr Sachin Ahir, Minister of State for Environment, in the Legislative Assembly on Monday. He was replying to a calling attention notice of MLA Mr Shashikant Shinde (Nationalist Congress Party).
Mr Ahir said the new mining policy will spell out the amount of royalty that needs to be paid to the village councils near mining sites.
Mr Shinde said the royalties have not been paid to the councils in spite of repeated demands.
Sand, soil, stones and other low-value minerals, which are primarily used in the construction sector, are covered under the present policy. However, it makes only a small provision for the infrastructure development of the mining area.
Across the State, village roads around mining sites are in bad shape. The constant heavy-vehicle movement has taken a toll on them. Adequate funds are not provided for their maintenance from the royalty earned by the Government.
The Chief Minister, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, said that the present policy was formulated in 2001. Over the years there have been a series of litigation and court orders on the policy. Hence, a new policy is being formulated, he said.
MLA Mr Pramod Jathar (Bharatiya Janata Party) demanded that out of the total royalty earned by the Government, 50 per cent must be spent on the villages, which are facing the brunt of excavation.