NAGPUR: Sand ghat owners, builders and contractors have breathed a sigh of relief as union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has relaxed norms for sand mining. Sand ghats having area of less than 5 hectare would no longer require environmental clearance. However, for sand ghat above 5 Ha area clearance is required. New union environment minister Veerappa Moily is relaxing norms for many other activities.

Even though legal mining of sand had stopped from June 30 onwards, illegal mining continues as there is continual requirement of sand in construction activities. The only thing that the ban achieved was to increase the rates of sand significantly. In mid-June the rates of sand were Rs15 or Rs16 per cubic feet. This increased to between Rs28 and Rs30 per cubic feet by August. Currently it is between Rs27 and Rs30 per cubic feet. It remains to be seen whether the rates will go down.

Sand mining was first hit when the state government changed the mining cycle from July 1-June 30 to October 1-September 30. Legal mining stopped between July 1 and September 30.

The sand ghats were finally auctioned and the government asked the successful bidders to deposit 25% of the royalty amount. The bidders were prohibited from starting mining until the state environment action committee (SEAC) provided them environmental clearance. The fact was that in October, SEAC did not exist. Even now the SEAC has not been formed, but because MoEF has waived of the need for environmental clearance for small ghats, legal mining can resume.

The sand ghats having area between 5 and 25 Ha should be given a clearance only after a feasibility survey is conducted. If the distance between the boundaries of two ghats is less than 1km then they will be considered as a cluster and clearance will be required.

The government has however, made it mandatory to observe certain restrictions in sand mining. They are- mining must be done manually, maximum depth allowed is 3m below water level, mining will be allowed only after safety zone around bridges and embankments is earmarked, contractor must provide replenishment plan and in stream mining shouldn't be allowed.

Sand contractor PS Kalsi said that over mining is a major problem and for that the auction period should be at least 3 years. "I have filed a petition in SC," he said adding that mining using JCBs is going on in the district.

GRAINS OF SAND

* Legal mining had stopped from July 1

* Environmental clearance not required for sand ghats below 5 hectare area

* Those above 5 Ha needs pre-feasibility survey

* Mining must be done manually

* Only up to 3m below water level

* Not near bridges and embankments