Restricted sand mining in DK till Aug 31

Restricted sand mining in DK till Aug 31

Mangalore Today News Network

Mnagaluru, July 24, 2015; In a brief for media on July 23,  DK DC Adoor B Ibrahim said after banning sand mining in CRZ, construction has come to standstill for the past one-and-half-months.It has badly affected labourers, contractors, builders, lorry owners and general public. It is estimated that around 200 loads of sand is needed for government buildings and around 1,000 loads of sand is needed for private constructions in DK.

Considering scarcity of sand, the Dakshina Kannada district administration has decided to issue 10 permits (for 10 loads instead of 100) for each acre for sand mining per month in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). There will be no provision to transport sand to other districts or states. This minimum sand minimum sand mining policy would be valid up to August 31.

DK administration will enforce the policy with the help of police department and other departments. Moreover, to control sand smuggling, a meeting with Police Commissioner would be convened within two-three days. There is proposal of forming a special squad to control illegal sand transportation.

At the taskforce committee meeting which was held July22,  the DC ordered that dozers cannot be used and only traditional sand mining is allowed. Only on working days, mining can be done  between 9 am and 5 pm. Sand mining is barred 500 metre anywhere near islands. The ban on fishing and sand mining, which was imposed on June 15, will be lifted on July 31.