In a major move, the Revenue Department of Maharashtra Government has amended the rules pertaining to auction of sand ghats outlined in the Sand Policy 2025, with an aim to ensure increased availability of crucial raw material. As per the decision, all the available sand ghats in a tehsil will be clubbed and auctioned in a go. Also, it has been decided to provide one year time for the winning bidder to excavate the sand, or till the availability of the material, whichever is earlier. According to the Revenue Department, the longer period is necessary to ensure that only experienced players participate in the auction process, ensuring continuity of the excavation. The changes are major and would impact the future process relating to auction of sand ghats. Observers say, in a single stroke the Revenue Department has altered the auction field as to sand ghats.

 

Now, it has emerged as major money earner in respective dominant area. It also will have bearing on local politics as now one can control a crucial raw material in the construction industry, they added. The new directives further expands the measures earlier listed in the Sand Policy 2025, and now District Collectors are told that all requisite permissions should be available prior to auction as sand mining is banned from June 10 to September 30 during the rainy season. The notification by Revenue Department also mentioned that available window for sand excavation is reduced, which then puts pressure on market where artificial shortage gets created, pushing up the prices of the key raw material. Multiple rounds Post adoption of new the Sand Policy 2025, it was noticed that there was no provision for conducting multiple rounds of auction.

 

The same became necessity in case the highest bidder failed to put-up the bid amount. Now, in the amended rules, District Collector can go for second or even third round of auction. Plus it is now even made clear as to number of eligible bidders in second and third round, which was not mentioned in the policy. Also, it was noticed for auction the rules drafted by Industry Department was adopted which however is suitable for official purchase and thus a new set of rules for sand ghat auction was much needed. First of all the general time plan for sand auction listed in Sand Policy 2025 is discarded and now District Collector are told to ensure all the requisite environmental clearance are available in advance so that auction can be held timely.

 

Advertisement Period: The amended rules also now lays down 15-days time period for inviting bids before starting the auction of sand ghats and minimum 3 bidders are necessary to conduct the process. In case bidders are less than three, then second round should be conducted and if the winning bidder fails to pay the royalty within prescribed time then H-2 or H-3 bids be taken up. The notice for holding second round of auction be notified 7-days before the process and here minimum 2 parties must participate and if only one turns-up the bidding should be cancelled and third round would then be taken-up. And interestingly only one bidder is enough to go for completion of third round and winning party should be given 15-days period to deposit the royalty amount. It also outlined that along side e-auction, e-tendering process be conducted simultaneously. Only after completing the auction, the bids placed in e-tender should be opened for scrutiny. The higher bidder would get the rights for sand ghat.