Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday, 28 April 2025, announced a sweeping set of measures to curb illegal sand mining across the state, including the deployment of specialised Flying Squads at the Taluka and Sub-division levels. The announcement follows a cabinet decision and introduces several key amendments to the Sand Policy of 8 April 2025, aimed at dismantling the entrenched sand mafia operating across Maharashtra's rivers, creeks, and coastal belts.

Flying Squads and Enhanced Enforcement Powers

Under the revised directives, dedicated flying squads comprising officers from the Revenue Department and other administrative branches will be constituted at the Taluka and Sub-division levels to monitor and intercept illegal sand transportation. Notably, given the unique geography of the coastal belt, Sub-divisional officers and Tehsildars in the Konkan region have been granted enhanced powers to take enforcement action in neighbouring talukas or districts beyond their immediate jurisdiction.

The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) has also been vested with increased authority to oversee sand extraction in coastal and creek areas. The MMB is now responsible for registering all boats used for sand transport in creeks, and unregistered or illegal vessels will be seized and handed over to Tehsildars for legal proceedings. Regional port officers have additionally been inducted into District and Taluka-level Sand Monitoring Committees in Konkan.

New Turnover Requirements for Sand Auctions

The government has introduced annual turnover criteria for individuals or organisations participating in sand auctions, calibrated to the volume of sand stock measured in Brass. The slabs are as follows: sand stock up to 1,000 Brass requires a turnover of ₹10 lakh; 1,001 to 2,000 Brass requires ₹20 lakh; 5,001 to 10,000 Brass requires ₹1 crore; 10,001 to 15,000 Brass requires ₹1.5 crore; 15,001 to 20,000 Brass requires ₹2 crore; 20,001 to 25,000 Brass requires ₹3 crore; and above 25,000 Brass requires ₹3.5 crore. These criteria are intended to prevent shell entities and financially unqualified bidders from cornering sand blocks.

E-Auction Mandate and Refund Rules

The revised policy mandates an E-auction system for all sand blocks in rivers and creeks, tailored to local geographical conditions. The auction tenure is fixed at one year or until the sand stock is exhausted, whichever occurs first. A mandatory clause has been inserted into all agreements specifying that if excavation cannot be carried out due to unforeseen circumstances, any refund to the auction holder will be strictly without interest.

District Collectors have been authorised to modify the implementation schedule within their respective districts, subject to approval from the Divisional Commissioner. The revised regulatory framework is applicable across the entire state.

Context and Significance

Illegal sand mining has long been a persistent problem in Maharashtra, with the sand mafia reportedly operating with impunity in several river belts and coastal districts. This is not the first attempt by the state to address the issue — previous crackdowns have had limited success due to inadequate enforcement infrastructure and jurisdictional gaps. The current set of measures attempts to address those structural weaknesses by expanding the enforcement mandate of existing officers and bringing coastal waterways under tighter institutional oversight.

Minister Bawankule stated that the revised framework is aimed at