Stone-crushing units get lifeline

Stone-crushing units get lifeline

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 12: Minister for Environment and Ecology J. Krishna Palemar said here on Monday that stone-crushing units in Dakshina Kannada district can continue their operation in existing locations for another six months.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Palemar was presiding over the the Karnataka Development Programme Review Committee meeting. He said the Supreme Court, in its verdict on March 15, had given six months to the State to comply with its order and for shifting stone-crushing units to safe zones.

The Minister said that a few days ago he met Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh and apprised them of issues involved in shifting the units. He had requested them to take steps immediately for amending the law so that stone-crushing units did not face any problem.

Mr. Palemar said he discussed the issues pertaining to ban on sand mining within 16-km. radius from the coast under the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules. He would meet Mr. Moily on Tuesday to discuss the two issues and find out a remedy.

He said the government had framed a Statewide policy on sand mining authorising the Public Works Department to extract sand with effect from April 1. But it would not be implemented in the coastal region for 45 days as a relaxation had been given. Hence private contractors permitted to extract sand could continue operation for 45 days. “The old pattern will continue for 45 days,” he said.

U.T. Khader and K. Abhayachandra Jain, MLAs, and Kota Srinivasa Poojary, MLC, urged the district administration not to strictly enforce the law pertaining to sand mining strictly. They demanded that if the law was implemented strictly, common people would find it difficult to buy sand for construction activities.

Mr. Poojary said Udupi and Uttara Kannada district administrations were not particular about enforcing the law on sand mining strictly. He wanted to know why only Dakshina Kannada district administration was particular about enforcing the law.

Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav said he could not turn a blind eye when provisions of the law pertaining to sand mining were violated. He was taking steps against illegal mining activities after receiving complaints.

Mr. Yadav said he had to look into the environmental concerns and the environment should be protected for the future. The CRZ guidelines had been framed not to create problems for people but for protecting the environment.

He said if the elected representatives felt that it was posing problems to the people, then suitable amendments in the law would have to be incorporated.

At one point, the Minister said: “The Deputy Commissioner should understand the problems.”

The Minister said the issue would be brought to the notice of the Government.