First state-owned sand mine comes up in Jharkhand

The state mines department began gradual implementation of its maiden sand mining policy based on National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines and introduced last year to curb illegal sand lifting by taking over all available ghats (sand mine). Officials said uncontrolled or illegal sand trade has dented the state exchequer besides threatening the local ecology. Last week, the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation (JSMDC) opened its first state-owned sand ghat in Khunti district. State mines commissioner A B Siddique said three more ghats are expected to be opened within the next two weeks in and around Garhwa district. He further said they are targeting to open 100 plus state-owned sand ghats across all 24 districts in the current fiscal. The Jharkhand State Sand Mining Policy 2017, which got the cabinet nod in August last year, has been drafted in sync with provisions prescribed by NGT, Siddique informed. "Earlier, environmental clearance wasn't mandated for minor minerals. In our policy, we have now made it compulsory as prescribed by the NGT," he said, adding that the state mining policy is inspired by the Telangana model and prepared after several rounds of deliberations.