While declining to vacate its stay on sand mining, the Bombay high court on Thursday observed that only stringent legal provisions will deter illegal sand extraction in the state.
A division bench of justices BH Marlapalle and UD Salvi were hearing a clutch of petitions in favour of and opposing the stay.
Advocate general Ravi Kadam submitted a draft of the sand dredging policy, stating that
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Government on Wednesday approved a new sand mining policy, which makes it compulsory for contractors to obtain permission from the Gramsabha, (the elected body of villagers) for sand mining and extraction. The policy says the Revenue Department should give sand mining licences only through a bidding process.
Navi Mumbai: As more containers from the MSC Chitra washed ashore, the officials of Uran taluka geared up to begin a clean-up drive on Friday. The process of clearing the plastic waste and other rotting food items will be undertaken by the Coast Guard, along with the Raigad district officials.
MUMBAI: Rampant, illegal sand-dredging, in contravention of rules laid down by the state government in its tender agreement with the dredgers, was witnessed on Tuesday when TOI visited Bankot Creek in Raigad along with environmental activists.
MUMBAI: The sand-mining mafia, which is gradually choking Bankot Creek in Raigad, attacked a TOI team and environmental activists Sumaira Abdulali and Naseer Jalal that visited the creek on Tuesday afternoon to report on the illegal activities. The Mahad police have registered a case of attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and rioting.
