The Background - November, 2014

In November, 2014 the Telangana Government sanctioned 18 quarries on river Godavari to

tribal SHGs. These groups were allowed to mine and supply the sand to customers in
Hyderabad. Some owners of patta lands, requested permission to mine sand deposited on
their lands during floods, which was granted. However, this led to rampant illegal mining in
the months after. The Sand mafia started to take these patta lands on lease, while also bribing
senior police and revenue officials. The State decided to implement stringent laws to check
illegal sand mining and smuggling.1
The Old Sand Mining Policy
Sale of sand and allotment of sand reaches was made through a system of draw of lots from
eligible applicants.
The New Sand Mining Policy December, 2014
In order to ensure availability of an adequate quantity of the right quality of sand at a
reasonable price to the people of the State, the Government decided to change its sand mining
policy.2
According to a GO issued by the Special Chief Secretary (Industries):

Sand available from major rivers, tributaries and backwaters of reservoirs including
de-siltation would be excavated by Telangana State Mineral Development
Corporation (TSMDC) after obtaining statutory clearances.
Sale of sand in the stockyards would be monitored through electronic surveillance
system (CCTVs) and electronic documentation would be linked to a central
monitoring facility.
The way-bills for transportation of sand would be issues by TSMDC and the vehicles
carrying sand would be tracked by GPS.
The sand available from rivers and streams would be divided into five categories
depending on size and capacity of the reach with small stream or vagu in villages
falling under the first category while major rivers such as Krishna and Godavari under
fifth category.
Sand in category I and II streams would be left to local body/villagers for local needs,
government-sponsored weaker section housing for which no seigniorage would be
collected.
The TSMDC would appoint contractors through competitive bidding for excavation
of sand in reaches identified by district-level committees.
The sand thus excavated would be moved to stockyards set up and managed by
TSMDC near sand reaches and in urban habitations, particularly in Municipal
Corporations, for sale of sand to all consumers -- small, medium or large.

1 http://www.deccanchronicle.com/141107/nation-current-affairs/article/telangana-toughlaws-curb-sand-mining
2 http://www.newswala.com/Hyderabad-News/Telangana-Government-introduces-NewSand-Mining-Policy-115071.html

The vehicles will be tracked by way of GPS. Any sand lorry found without TSMDC
way-bill will be illegal and the vehicle should be seized.

However, sand from such sources for construction of school buildings, community halls
and others would be allowed with payment of seigniorage by the consuming agency. Sand
in category III, IV and V sources would be allowed for exploitation subject to WALTA
Rules.

Preliminary identification of sand in the last three categories would be done by the Mines
and Geology Department in consultation with the Irrigation, Ground Water and Revenue
Departments.

These reaches would include left banks of Tungabhadra, Krishna including project
backwaters, Godavari and its tributaries and all project de-siltation areas. 3

3 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/ts-announces-new-sand-miningpolicy/article6686877.ece