CM Mamata cracks down on sand theft with new tender-based mining rules

The West Bengal government is set to introduce a tender-based system for sand mining to combat ongoing theft and regulate extraction. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant recently convened a video conference with district police superintendents, the Home Secretary, and the Director General of Police to implement these measures. The Mining Commission will handle tenders for larger rivers, including the Damodar and Ajay, dividing them into smaller blocks for controlled mining.

For smaller rivers, district administrations will manage sand extraction based on specific regional requirements. The focus will be on ensuring that mining activities do not disrupt river flows. The state government is also finalizing detailed guidelines to streamline the process and maintain environmental compliance during sand extraction.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, addressing concerns about illegal activities, specifically mentioned issues of corruption. She said, “Some officials and CISF personnel are taking bribes for sand, coal, and cement theft.” She instructed officials to take strict action against any personnel found involved in such practices and emphasized accountability within the administrative and law enforcement systems.

The upcoming notification will outline the tendering process, roles of the Mining Commission, and monitoring protocols. District police and administrative officials will be required to regularly report on sand mining activities and enforce rules to prevent unauthorized extraction. These measures will be coordinated through Nabanna to ensure compliance across all districts.