The Chhattisgarh government has taken comprehensive steps to make the sand mining policy more transparent, organized, environmentally sensitive, and beneficial to the public. Under the previous government, the number of sand mines in the state decreased from 300 to about 100-150. The current government believes this impacted construction work and promoted illegal mining.
The current Vishnu Deo Sai government has reformed the mining policy to organize, control, and benefit the public in the sand mining system. It has been made more transparent, scientific, and people-friendly.
To expedite the environmental clearance process, the government has formed three state-level environmental impact assessment committees, with approval from the Government of India. Previously, only one committee was functioning. This decision has streamlined the process of disposing of pending cases.
Currently, 119 sand mines are operating with environmental clearance, while the approval process for 94 other mines is in the final stage. Additionally, there are plans to approve more than 300 new mines in the next 1 to 1.5 years, ensuring a smooth supply of sand and accelerating construction work.
A study conducted by IIT Roorkee on the environmental impacts of mining on major rivers concluded that properly regulated sand mining does not have any negative impact on rivers. This report supports the state’s scientific approach to the mining policy.
From 2024-25 to June 2025, 6,331 illegal mining cases were registered, with ₹18.02 crore recovered, 184 machines seized, 56 FIRs filed, and 57 court cases initiated. District and state-level task forces, consisting of officials from the mining, revenue, police, transport, and environment departments, are continuously monitoring and taking action.
Prompt legal and administrative action has been taken on disputes and incidents related to sand in various districts of the state, including Rajnandgaon and Balrampur. The government has a clear directive that no illegal activity will be tolerated.
As per a decision taken on March 15, 2024, royalty exemption has been provided on sand to eligible beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. This decision has provided direct relief to the poor and needy.
The policy of the Chhattisgarh government is clear: to base the exploitation of mineral resources on the principles of public interest, transparency, and environmental balance. Prepared with an organized, scientific, and long-term approach, this new sand mining policy will be a strong foundation for both the overall development and environmental protection of the state.
