Mangaluru: Sand extraction stalled due to delays in CRZ approval

Mangaluru: The confusion surrounding sand extraction in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) has persisted for three years, leading to a complete breakdown in the official supply of sand across the coastal region. However, illegal sand mining continues unabated in these areas.

Typically, sand extraction in the CRZ is banned during June and July. After this period, studies are conducted on river sand deposits, followed by the submission of a proposal to the Karnataka Coastal Management Authority for approval. Subsequently, district-level committees convene to grant permissions. This year, despite the submission of the proposal and report to the state authority seven months ago, approval from the Central Government has not been received.

In response to a request from the Department of Mines and Geology for guidelines on sand extraction from CRZ sandbanks, the state government’s Forest and Environment Department instructed officials to await orders from the Central Government.

Meanwhile, illegal sand mining has become rampant, with well-organized networks supplying high-quality CRZ sand overnight for prices ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 per load. Despite these activities, officials have not taken action to curb the illegal trade.

The Central Government is expected to make a final decision in a meeting involving the Environment, CRZ, Industry, and Forest departments. However, unlike previous years, this meeting, usually held in August, has not yet taken place. In non-CRZ areas of Dakshina Kannada district, approximately 16 sand blocks have been identified, but extraction is currently impossible due to ongoing rains.