Maharashtra government revises base rates under sand extraction policy

The state has approved a revised sand policy that resets royalty rates and moves river and creek-bed sand sales to district-level online auctions with two-year validity. Sand from mine overburden and other minor minerals will carry lower fixed rates.

The policy is aimed at curbing illegal extraction and the sand mafia, while offering a free sand quota to individuals building homes for personal use and tightening quality norms for manufactured sand. Sand pricing feeds directly into construction costs across the state.