DK: Action sought over remaining sand blocks under CRZ

Mangaluru: The cabinet minister for mining Rajashekhar Patil has directed the district administration to take action regarding permission for sand mining at the 10 remaining sand blocks out the 22 sand blocks coming under the CRZ in Dakshina Kannada district.

A high level meeting was held in Bengaluru on Friday regarding the sand problem under the leadership of Legislative Council Chairman Prathap Chandra Shetty and in participation of MLA’s from the three districts, members of the legislative council, secretaries from the ministry and the DC’s of the three districts.

Eligible contractors have been given permission to conduct sand mining at 12 sand blocks. Permission needs to be given to the remaining 10 sand blocks. This will provide solution to the sand problem being faced in the district, demanded the MLA’s. Responding to this, the minister asked the DC to immediately give permission to eligible contractors for extracting sand from the remaining 10 sand blocks by Jan 12^th.

During the meeting, the MLA’s brought to the notice of the minister some problems regarding sand mining at non-CRZ areas and informed about some rules because of which it was not being possible for contractors to bid for the blocks and therefore, the rules need to be modified. The minister assured that he would speak with the chief minister in this regard and take immediate action, informed MLC Ivan D’Souza.

Pricing

During the meeting it was pointed out that though sand mining has begun, people are not getting sand. The prices are expensive. Therefore a proper price must be decided for the sand, it was demanded. A meeting of contractors will be called for immediately and the pricing will be decided. Also a call center will be set up to respond to the complaints and demands of the people regarding sand, said the DC, informed MLA Vedavyas Kamath.