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Maharashtra Plans End-User Royalty Accountability To Curb Illegal Mining
Maharashtra wants to change how it collects money from sand, murum and other minor minerals.
Under the proposed plan, the person using these materials would pay the royalty.
For example, someone building a house might declare how much material is needed and pay for it.
This could reduce the need for officials to stop trucks and chase illegal transporters.
The plan also aims to remove middlemen and make users more responsible.
Farmers’ tractors would not be seized when carrying soil or similar materials for farming.
A digital system called MahaKhanij 2.0 will help track minerals and vehicles.
The government has not yet explained when the amendment will begin or all the details of how it will work.
Maharashtra plans to make end users responsible for minor-mineral royalty payments.
The proposal would cover materials such as sand, murum and aggregate used in construction.
People building homes may have to declare quantities, pay royalty and accept responsibility for materials.
Farmers’ tractors would be exempt from seizure when transporting minerals for agricultural purposes.
MahaKhanij 2.0 is intended to monitor permits, transport, royalty payments, vehicles and enforcement.
- Who
- Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and the state government proposed the change, affecting end users, transporters and farmers.
- What
- The government plans to make end users responsible for minor-mineral royalty payments and use digital monitoring to curb illegal mining and transportation.
- Where
- The announcement was made during Bawankule’s visit to Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra.
- When
- Bawankule announced the plan on Thursday; MahaKhanij 2.0 was launched on September 15.
- Why
- The proposal aims to reduce illegal extraction, transportation and royalty evasion while protecting legitimate agricultural use by farmers.
Key facts
- Proposed responsibility
- End users would declare the quantity of minor minerals they need, pay the applicable royalty and accept responsibility for the material.
- Materials covered
- Examples include sand, murum, aggregate and soil.
- Farmer exemption
- Farmers’ tractors would not be seized when transporting soil, murum or other minor minerals for agricultural purposes from their fields.
- Digital platform
- MahaKhanij 2.0 monitors permits, transportation, royalty payments, vehicle tracking, surveys and enforcement.
- Policy objective
- The system is intended to curb illegal extraction, transportation and royalty evasion.
- Implementation status
- The proposed amendment has no timeline yet, and details on declarations and royalty calculations remain unspecified.
Quotes
Chandrashekhar Bawankule
Maharashtra Revenue Minister discussing the proposed minor-mineral royalty system
“Leaving aside the farmers’ tractors, we are clamping down hard on all other illegal minor mineral activities”
freepressjournal.in
“We will make the end user responsible now”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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