Explanation:

The Punjab Cabinet today approved the much-awaited Punjab State Sand and Gravel Policy, 2018.The policy enables the entry of big players in the business of sand mining by dividing the state in seven clusters each comprising of two to three districts.
The new policy would come into force two months after the Cabinet approval to the Punjab State Sand and Gravel Policy, 2018 and amendment to the Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013.
The government approved policy changes to enable the government to grant contracts by auction of mining blocks in strategically established clusters through progressive bidding instead of the earlier process of auction by individual mines.
Sticking to the existing policy of granting contracts by auctioning mining blocks through progressive bidding instead of the earlier process of auction by individual mines, the government claimed that it would not only boost the state revenue to nearly Rs 400 crore annually, but also result in self-regulated price control mechanism and check rampant practice of illegal mining.