The Tamil Nadu State Sand Lorry Owners Federation has called on the state government to implement an E-Way Bill system for the mining sector. The federation believes this move could effectively curb illegal transportation of minerals, eliminate corruption, and significantly increase state revenue. Additionally, they have demanded the formulation of a manufactured sand (M-sand) policy for crusher units.
Representation Submitted to Minister
In a representation submitted to Minister for Minerals and Mines T K Prabhu on Friday, the association highlighted that the state government's major welfare schemes require substantial financial resources. Reforms in the mining sector alone could generate up to ₹50,000 crore annually while plugging large-scale revenue leakages.
“The absence of a digital tracking mechanism has enabled illegal transportation of M-sand, overloading of vehicles, tax evasion, and unauthorised quarry operations across the state. Integrating a mining-specific E-Way Bill system with the transport department’s M Parivahan platform and GST network will ensure real-time monitoring of movement,” said S Yuvaraj, president of the federation.
Benefits of the Proposed System
According to the representation, such a system would prevent overloaded vehicles from generating transport permits. Authorities would be able to verify mineral consignments through QR codes, reducing opportunities for bribery at roadside checkpoints. The association also stated that “illegal transport of minerals to neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Kerala” could be monitored and prevented through digital tracking.
The petition alleged that a significant quantity of minerals is being transported without proper billing and documentation, resulting in losses to the state exchequer. It called for greater transparency in mineral dispatches and stronger enforcement against unauthorised quarrying and crushing operations, noting that digital tracking could monitor such activities effectively.
Irregularities in the M-Sand Sector
Highlighting irregularities in the M-sand sector, the association claimed that while Tamil Nadu has around 4,000 M-sand production units, only 1,376 crushers have valid licences from the mines department. “The public works department quality certification has been granted to less than 480 units. Several unlicensed crushers continue to operate and supply materials without contributing revenue to the government. Bringing such units under a digital permit and monitoring framework would result in thousands of crores of additional revenue for the state,” Yuvaraj added.
Call for Meeting and Policy Formation
The association has requested the minister to convene a meeting involving senior government officials, quarry operators, licence holders, lorry owners, and police. The purpose is to discuss reforms and formulate a comprehensive strategy to regulate the sector. “It has been 12 years since M-sand was first used. A policy should be rolled out to regulate the crusher units,” he added.
Minister Prabhu was not available for comments.
