Latest news with #Gharkul
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Maha govt plans to bring in new sand policy for Gharkul beneficiaries
Mumbai: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday announced in the state Assembly that the government is contemplating formulating a separate policy under which free sand will be transported to the beneficiaries of the Gharkul scheme. Bawankule also clarified in the House that the Tehsildar was suspended after a complaint was filed regarding some sand cases in the Tumsar Assembly constituency. "We don't know who is using whose name. If anyone is misusing my name or the Chief Minister's name, file an FIR directly at the police station. We will put such people in jail," he warned. Minister Bawankule said, "The Gharkul beneficiaries have received royalty, but now the question is – who will deliver the sand to their homes? The transportation cost is Rs 30,000 to 40,000. The beneficiaries cannot afford this much cost. The sand reserves are far away in many places, and it has to be delivered from a distance of 30-50 km." Considering these difficulties, the Revenue Department, in collaboration with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Finance Department, has started considering a new 'Domestic Sand Transport Policy'. The minister said, "I will present a clear plan in this regard before the end of the session. As much help as possible will be provided to the beneficiaries of the Gharkul scheme to ensure easy access to sand." Earlier, Minister Bawankule announced that the transportation of excavated sand will be allowed for 24 hours after taking a valid transport permit in Maharashtra. "As the sand transportation is not permitted between 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., the use of sand in the state is not done fully. Therefore, the government, in a bid to promote maximum use of the stock of sand excavated from 6 am to 6 pm, has decided to allow 24-hour transportation by procuring a valid permit, adhering to certain conditions. The government is providing the facility of procuring a valid permit that will be available for 24 hours," he said.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Maha govt allows transportation of excavated sand for 24 hours with valid permit
Mumbai: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday announced that the transportation of excavated sand will be allowed for 24 hours after taking a valid transport permit. The minister, in his statement in the state Assembly, said that at present, the sand excavation is permitted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and transportation of excavated sand is allowed after 6 p.m. for those who have taken a valid transport permit. The sand transportation is not allowed in some cities in the wake of heavy traffic. The demand for sand is rapidly increasing to complete various development projects. But, the use of available vehicles for transporting the excavated sand was not taking place fully due to the curbs on sand transportation after 6 p.m. He told the Assembly that such curbs are not applicable for the sand transported from other states, as they are allowed 24-hour transportation based on a zero royalty pass. 'As the sand transportation is not permitted between 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., the use of sand in the state is not done fully. Therefore, the government, in a bid to promote maximum use of the stock of sand excavated from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., has decided to allow 24-hour transportation by procuring a valid permit adhering to certain conditions. The government is providing a facility for procuring a valid permit that will be available for 24 hours,' he said. Minister Bawankule said that geo-fencing will be done on excavated sand and its stocks, while the installation of CCTVs and GPS Services in vehicles deployed for the transportation of excavated sand under various conditions laid down by the government will also be executed. The Minister's announcement is important as the state Sand Policy 2025 does not explicitly mention allowing or regulating 24-hour sand transportation. Transportation is governed by permits and e-passes issued through an online portal, primarily managed by tehsildars for legal distribution. Local gram panchayats and municipal councils can access sand at royalty rates for construction, but no reference to round-the-clock operations exists in the provided data. Further, the minister assured the opposition that the government is prepared for discussion on the recently announced new sand policy. The policy focuses on regulating sand excavation, distribution, and transportation to curb illegal activities and ensure a sustainable supply. It includes e-auctions for sand clusters, promotion of M-Sand (artificial sand), and free sand (up to 5 bags) for rural housing beneficiaries under the Gharkul scheme. Minister Bawankule said that in order to reduce reliance on river sand, the policy promotes M-Sand (manufactured sand), with 50 crusher units authorised per district and mandatory use in government projects (20 per cent initially, increasing to 100 per cent over three years). This indirectly impacts transportation by shifting focus to locally produced artificial sand, potentially reducing transport logistics.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pasarwadi villagers get 2 acres to build new homes in Malin
Pune: The Ambegaon tehsil administration allocated two acres on safe land to 34 tribal families living in Pasarwadi hamlet of Malin village to construct houses. This hamlet on the edge of a hill experienced soil cracks last year raising concerns about another landslide. Its residents were anxious after the one in 2014 claimed 151 lives. Ambegaon's tehsildar Sanjay Nagtilak said, "The new plot is safe and suitable for constructing houses. We will give financial assistance through state and national welfare schemes and seek CSR funds to help the residents build homes." Authorities said they will have water supply and electricity. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Digambar Bhalchim, former sarpanch of Malin and a resident of Pasarwadi hamlet, said, "It was crucial to relocate due to heavy rainfall. Recently, a large boulder fell on the road from the spot where cracks developed, and we are uncertain about the extent of internal damage. Villagers are fearful of another tragedy. The allocation of land plots provided significant relief for us," he said. Officials from the tehsil's administration said after the Malin tragedy, Geological Survey of India conducted extensive surveys and identified Bendarwadi, Kalwadi I, Kalwadi II, and Pasarwadi as landslide-prone areas and recommended relocatioing of their residents. "As many as 250 families had to be shifted to a safe location. This year, Pasarwadi villagers will relocate. Some 18 families already received houses under the Gharkul scheme. Construction will commence after the monsoon," another official from the tehsil administration said. The new location is two km away from the current one. "The plot was finalised after receiving the villagers' consent. The purchase process took over a year to complete. Hence, we couldn't relocate the villagers before this year's monsoon," Nagtilak said. Villagers and local activists said they need basic services in the new hamlet. "We face a severe drinking water shortage during summer. The tehsil's officials should construct an overhead tank to ensure supply throughout the year," Malin activist Vijay Lembhe said. Budhaji Damse, president of Shaswat, an NGO working for tribal communities, said the construction of a community hall, schools, and other facilities is necessary at the new location.
