CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Environment clearance issued to as many as 60 mining areas has paved the way for legal mining of bajri (riverbed sand) in Rajasthan, more than four years after the Supreme Court banned the sand mining activities in riverbeds until a scientific replenishment study was completed.

Detailed explanation-2: -JODHPUR: Illegal gravel (bajri) mining is continuing unabated in Jodhpur despite preventive and punitive measures by the mining department, police and administrative officials.

Detailed explanation-3: -River sand mining is the extraction of sand (and gravel) from the drainage network of a river. By its nature, this practice effects the environment. The severity, however, depends on the rate, type and execution of the extraction.

Detailed explanation-4: -Existing Licensing Regime Sand comes within the definition of “minor minerals” under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957 (Mines Act). 2 Any mining operations, reconnaissance, or prospecting of sand3 can only be undertaken with prior permission or license from the government.

Detailed explanation-5: -The M-sand policy has been launched with the aim of reducing the dependency on the traditional sand from rivers. Through this policy, the use and production of manufactured sand or M-sand in the state will be encouraged.