TFP Bureau, Raipur, July 15, 2025: The Chhattisgarh government has launched comprehensive reforms to make sand mining in the state more transparent, organized, and environmentally responsible. After a steep decline in legal quarry operations under the previous regime—from around 300 to just 100–150—the current administration has taken decisive steps to regulate extraction, support construction activity, and combat illegal mining.
A key reform includes accelerating environmental clearances by establishing three State-Level Environmental Appraisal Committees, replacing the single committee previously responsible. This has significantly sped up application processing and clearance approvals.
Currently, 119 sand quarries are operating with valid environmental clearances, while approvals for 94 more quarries are nearing completion. The government plans to sanction over 300 additional quarries in the next 12 to 18 months to ensure steady sand supply for infrastructure projects.
Reinforcing its scientific approach, the state relied on an IIT Roorkee study that confirmed controlled, legally regulated sand mining does not harm river ecosystems. This validation strengthens the government’s commitment to a science-based mineral policy.
The crackdown on illegal mining has been rigorous. Between the 2024–25 fiscal year and June 2025, authorities registered 6,331 illegal mining cases, recovered ₹18.02 crore in penalties, seized 184 mining machines, and initiated 56 FIRs along with 57 court cases. Task forces involving mining, police, revenue, transport, and environment departments continue strict monitoring.
In response to local disputes over sand mining, swift legal and administrative actions have been taken in districts such as Rajnandgaon and Balrampur. The government has issued a clear message that illegal activities will not be tolerated.
In a socially sensitive move, beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) are exempted from paying sand royalty, providing financial relief to the economically weaker sections in constructing their homes.
Chhattisgarh’s forward-looking mineral policy emphasizes public interest, transparency, and ecological balance. This newly structured and scientifically guided framework is set to establish a sustainable foundation for the state’s developmental and environmental goals.
