M-sand manufacturers can bid for setting up plants in Rajasthan as the state government started the bidding process from January 10, 2025 for 31 units.
According to the auction schedule, bids can be made on the e-portal of the Government of India from January 28 to February 6.
Principal secretary mines T Ravikanth said that the production of M-sand will help sustainable development by ensuring environmental protection, fostering economic growth and supporting communities.
The state government has recently launched new policy on M-sand, which aims aims to increase M-sand production to 30 MT annually by 2028-29. It will utilise the “existing overburden” in mining areas to promote sustainable and eco-friendly mining.
The government will promote recycling of sand in construction and use demolition waste in construction. Promoting the M-Sand industry will create employment at the local level.
Ravikant said that in the new policy, along with newly given industry status to M-Sand units, will help sustain M-sand manufacturing.
In the new policy, the government has abolished the obligation of three years of experience and turnover of Rs 3 crores for M-sand units to be eligible for concessions.
Similarly, the royalty payable on the overburden has been reduced. At the time of auction, 5 plots will be reserved and allocated instead of having two plots for the M-sand units.
Along with this, the policy has several incentives for manufacturing units including the promise of at least 25 per cent of the sand they make to be used in construction works carried out by the state government, semi-government, local bodies, panchayati raj institutions and other organisations financed by the state government. The amount will be increased to 50 per cent in a phased manner by 2028-29.
Director Mines Bhagwati Prasad Kalal said that the tender notice has been issued on January 10 on the e-portal of the Government of India for the e-auction of 31 M-sand plots in 15 districts.
“Auction notices of two each in Ajmer, Nagaur, Sirohi, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Baran, Pali and Sikar, three each in Bundi, Dungarpur and Pratapgarh and one unit each in Kotputli and Dausa have been issued,” he said.
Kalal informed that 28 of these delineated plots are being auctioned for bidders setting up M-sand units of masonry stone and 3 delineated plots of overburden are being auctioned for bidders setting up M-Sand units.
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