Raipur: In a significant policy-focused meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the Chhattisgarh Council of Ministers approved several transformative proposals across mineral management, land valuation reforms, and sports infrastructure development. The meeting was held at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan.
1. Revised DMF Rules to Align with PMKKKY-2024 Guidelines
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Chhattisgarh District Mineral Institute Trust Rules, 2015, bringing them in line with the new guidelines of the Ministry of Mines and the revised Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) 2024.
As per the updated rules:
70% of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds will now be mandatorily allocated to high-priority sectors including:
- Drinking water
- Health and education
- Environmental protection
- Pollution control
- Women, child, and elderly welfare
- Skill development and employment
- Sanitation and housing
- Agricultural and animal husbandry development
This move is aimed at maximizing the socio-economic impact of mining royalties in affected areas.
2. New Sand Mining Rules to Curb Illegal Trade and Boost Revenue
To tighten control over illegal sand mining and improve transparency, the Council repealed the 2019 and 2023 sand mining rules (applicable to scheduled areas) and introduced the Chhattisgarh Minor Mineral Ordinary Sand (Excavation and Business) Rules–2025.
Key features of the new rules include:
- Electronic auction system for sand mine allocation
- Strict environmental and safety compliance
- Measures to make sand available at fair prices to the public
- Steps to prevent illegal excavation and transportation
The government expects the new policy to enhance revenue collection and promote eco-friendly mining practices.
3. Land Valuation Rationalised to Prevent Irregularities
The Cabinet also approved a proposal from the Commercial Tax Registration Department to overhaul the way market rates of rural agricultural land are determined.
Major changes include:
- Abolishing the 500 sq.m plot provision for rate calculation—entire area to be calculated at hectare rates
- Scrapping the 2.5x multiplier for converted rural land
- Introducing square meter-based rates for:
- Villages adjoining urban boundaries
- Lands in industrial or investment zones
These reforms aim to prevent irregularities such as those reported in the Bharatmala Project and Arpa Bhainsajar in Bilaspur.
4. Cricket Academy to Come Up in Nava Raipur
In a boost to sports infrastructure, the Cabinet approved allocation of 7.96 acres of land in Sector-3, Village Parasada, Nava Raipur (Atal Nagar) to the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association (CSCS) to establish a state-of-the-art cricket academy.
The proposed academy will:
- Offer international-standard training and facilities to budding cricketers
- Serve as a nurturing ground for national and international talent
- Enhance Chhattisgarh’s visibility in Indian cricket
Officials noted that the state already has a strong cricketing pipeline, and this move will further strengthen its sporting profile.
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