Bilaspur | Dec 17, 2015: Environmental clearance has been granted to four new mines in the district. With this the total of number sand mines in the district has gone up to a dozen, while proposals for a dozen new mines are awaiting environmental clearance. The new mines that have been granted clearance include one each in Marwahi, Pendra and two in Kota tehsil of the district.
The sand mine in Marwahi is situated at Ameri Tikra on the banks of river Sone while the one at Sildaha village panchayat is on the banks of Arpa. At the same time proposal for environmental clearance of proposed sand mines at village panchayat Chichgohna in Marwahi tehsil and Sodhapur in Kota tehsil was deferred as sarpanch and secretaries of both the village panchayats were absent during the case hearing. According to district mining officer R Malwe, with the new mines getting clearance total number of sand mines in the district now has gone up to a dozen. At the same time proposals for new sand mines in 12 more village panchayats are awaiting environmental clearance.
A couple of months ago as many as 15 sand mines of the district were closed down as their environmental clearance was not renewed. Since then only eight sand mines were functioning in the district. Soon after the closure of those 15 mines sand prices were hiked up. However, with new mines coming into operation prices are now expected to ease.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)