Sand mining rules for coastal districts amended

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 22: Mayur Ullal, the president of the Joint Action Committee, Sand Contractors, Sand Boat Owners – Workers, and Building Materials, said that the state government has amended the Karnataka minor minerals concession rules. He was speaking at a press meet organized by the coastal districts sand mining unions and transport unions at Hotel Foodland on July 22 Friday.

He further said that the new sand mining rules, according to the gazette dated July 2, envisages the regulation of sand mining through several restrictions. The new rules attempt to end reckless mining of sand, which is damaging the environment, he added.

He also said that, during a meeting held in the presence of the district-in-charge ministers of 3 districts, the department secretary, MLAs, parishad members, and office bearers on June 16, the chief minister had permitted the designing of separate sand mining rules for the 3 coastal districts. He expressed gratitude to district-in-charge ministers Krishna J. Palemar, Dr. V. S. Acharya, and Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri; the deputy commissioners of the 3 districts; and the CM for responding to these problems.

He also said that, according to the amended rules, the Public Works Department (PWD) has been entrusted with the responsibility of sand extraction, transportation, storage, and disposal while a district-level committee headed by the DC will monitor these activities and identify unsuitable sand deposits.

Committee members Rajaratna Sanil, Walter Lobo, Jithendra Suvarna, Satyapal Rai, and Sunil were present at the press conference.