Lok Sabha Question No. 3331 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-07
Subject: Sand Mining
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: SRIRAM MALYADRI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3331

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 TH  AUGUST, 2018/SHRAVANA 16, 1940 (SAKA)

SAND MINING

3331.

SHRI MALYADRI SRIRAM:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that villagers are facing long legal battle against illegal sand mining across the country;

- (b) if so, details thereof;
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) the number of officials and police killed by the sand mafias during the last three years and the current year, State-wise; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to protect villagers/ officials/police from the sand mafias?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (e): Minor minerals, which include sand, are defined under the Mines and

Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957. Section 23C of the MMDR Act, 1957 gives powers to the State Governments to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals. Under this provision, regular operations to curb and eliminate illegal mining and to take action against those involved in illegal mining are within the jurisdiction of the State Governments. Government of India does not maintain information about cases of illegal mining or killings by sand mafia. Further, 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.  The   State   Governments   are   primarily   responsible  for  prevention,

## LS.US.Q.NO.3331 FOR 07.08.2018

detection,  registration  and  investigation  of  crime  and  for  prosecuting  the criminals through their law enforcement agencies, as also for protecting the life and property of the citizens. The onus of defending the officers involved in prevention of heinous crimes including prevention of activities of sand mafia rests with the respective State Governments. Further, States/ UT administrations are competent to take action in their area of jurisdiction to protect the interests of citizens.

A report  in  the  form  of  'Sand  Mining  Framework'  has  been  prepared  & released by the Ministry of Mines based on a study conducted on sand mining in  various  states  detailing  the  best  practices  adopted  by  states  in  areas  of Rules  &  Regulations,  Allocation  of  Sand  blocks,  Sale  and  Transportation  of sand, Monitoring of Operations, Alternatives of sand and Consumer Satisfaction. The framework has been developed for assisting States to arrive at an appropriate policy and administrative system for addressing the needs of  this  sector.  The  framework  examines  states  objectives,  the  DemandSupply scenario, allocation models, transportation and monitoring mechanism,  suggestions  for  faster  clearances/  approvals  and  use  of  IT intervention  in  the  complete  process  chain  of  sand  mining.  This  framework also  lays  emphasis  on  the  alternatives  of  sand  i.e.  Manufactured  Sand  (MSand), sand from mined overburden and import of sand for reducing dependency on river sand.

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