Maharashtra endorses strategy to boost artificial sand utilization.
📣 Mumbai takes a game-changing step towards environmental sustainability 📣
Mumbai, India: In an effort to prioritize the environment and promote sustainable development, the Maharashtra government has introduced a policy mandating the use of artificial sand, also known as manufactured sand (M-sand), in construction projects across the state. This decision, announced on Tuesday in a cabinet meeting, is expected to have a significant impact, particularly in the bustling cities of Mumbai, Pune, and their surrounding areas.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule revealed that the policy aims to curb excessive mining of natural sand and replace it with the sustainable alternative of M-sand in the construction sector. To encourage M-sand production, the state will provide land for artificial sand crushers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Enthusiastically calling it a "revolutionary step," Bawankule stated that using M-sand will not only benefit the environment but also maintain the quality and quantity of construction work. He emphasized that this alternative will prove beneficial for the numerous construction projects in Mumbai, Pune, and other nearby urban areas.
Artificial sand is made by crushing hard rocks, such as granite, into small particles. In its initial phase, the state government has decided to allow the installation of 50 crusher machines in each district and a total of 1,500 across the state.
The state government also plans for existing crushers to transition to M-sand production in the next three years. Otherwise, their production will not be permitted to continue. Bawankule clarified that the state government is not intending to shut down stone quarries; instead, rocky terrain will be used for setting up crushers to allow for digging stones with minimal environmental impact.
Another advantage of the policy is that companies involved in the M-sand production projects will receive Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) status, granting them access to subsidies, concessions, and exemptions provided by the industries department. Furthermore, the royalty price of artificial sand has been reduced to ₹200 per brass, significantly lower than the ₹600 per brass paid for natural sand.
Sand mining is a growing environmental concern, with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) having banned it in coastal regions in several states, including Maharashtra, due to the damage it causes to natural ecosystems. However, in 2016, the ban was lifted in Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad, and Thane after the state government guaranteed compliance with environmental regulations during the sand mining process.
By promoting M-sand consumption, the Maharashtra government is hoped to alleviate the environmental burdens associated with the extraction of virgin river sand while simultaneously supporting sustainable construction practices. The policy is expected to reduce environmental degradation, minimizing the disruption of local ecosystems, land degradation, and noise pollution.
With Mumbai and Pune experiencing rapid urbanization, the policy presents a timely solution to ensure that development coincides with eco-friendliness, thus paving the way for long-term, sustainable growth in these urban centers.
- The initiative to promote artificial sand (M-sand) usage in construction projects, led by the Maharashtra government, could potentially leverage artificial-intelligence-driven technologies for optimizing M-sand production, thereby enhancing the efficiency and eco-friendliness of the construction sector in Mumbai and other urban areas.
- As part of India's broader commitment to sustainable development, the Maharashtra government's policy of encouraging M-sand production could inspire other Indian states to adopt similar measures, thus reducing the nation's carbon footprint and fostering a greener, technologically advanced construction industry.
- To maintain the quality of construction work in Mumbai and Pune, the government's policy could evolve over time to include the integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and environmental sensors, to ensure that buildings are not only sustainable and eco-friendly, but also smart and efficient in terms of energy consumption and resource utilization.
