With the sand mafia still reigning in the State, the government has now decided to introduce a sand policy to ensure the availability of sand at affordable rates for the public.
Under the state’s sand policy, arrangements have been made to supply sand at a fixed low price for public and local government projects through gram panchayats, said Minister for Mines, Geology, and Horticulture SS Mallikarjun.
“The government has set a uniform sale price of Rs 850 per metric tonne for sand across the state. Of this, 50% will be designated as the ceiling price, and 60% of the ceiling price will serve as the cut-off price.
The responsibility of extracting and distributing sand from Grade I, II, and III streambeds has been assigned to gram panchayats, with the price fixed at Rs 300 per metric tonne. This system is already in place,” Mallikarjun said.
Officials said that for Grade IV, V, and higher-grade streambeds, sand blocks are allocated to government-owned entities or departments for mining. Additionally, the rules have been amended to allow the allocation of these sand blocks to public and private institutions through a tender process.
The minister further clarified that under the new policy, tenders for sand blocks will be managed by district-level sand committees. Reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, differently-abled individuals, and other general categories will be implemented under a roster system for sand blocks identified in each district.
BK Lakshmipathi, a builder, said, “By fixing sand prices at Rs 850 per metric tonne and empowering gram panchayats to manage the supply of lower-grade sand, the policy reduces costs for individuals building homes, particularly in rural areas. This pricing mechanism ensures accessibility to quality sand for local construction needs without inflating market rates, offering significant relief to middle-class families constructing homes on tight budgets.”
He added that by strengthening security measures like CCTV surveillance and enforcing strict regulations on mining activities, the policy also mitigates illegal mining, protecting natural resources and the environment. “This policy is particularly advantageous for homeowners, as it curtails price fluctuations in the sand market, enabling better budget planning for construction projects. Moreover, the focus on sustainable mining practices ensures the long-term availability of this critical resource.”
More needs to be done to amplify the policy’s impact, said Sunil Kumar, who is planning to build a house. “Awareness campaigns about the e-portal system and pricing structure can enhance public participation. Additionally, infrastructure improvements such as efficient transportation networks for sand delivery can further streamline the supply chain. By addressing these areas, the government can make sand more accessible and affordable, fostering growth in the housing sector while safeguarding natural resources,” he added.
Source Homevior.in
