Non CRZ sand mining to be given to individual ZP’s jurisdiction

Mangaluru: It has been decided to give the jurisdiction of the sand mining at non-CRZ sand blocks to the individual zilla panchayats within whose limits they exist. It will be started at the 8 GP’s in the district. This information was provided by DK ZP CEO Dr Selvamani and Parliamentary secretary Ivan D’Souza during the 15^th general assembly under the leadership of DK ZP president Meenakshi Shantigodu on Wednesday Jan 30^th.

The names and rules for the 8 panchayats will be finalized by the week. In this way, a new expectation has been kept for sand mining. Mines Minister Rajashekhar B Patil and district in-charge minister U T Khader visited Mangaluru on Tuesday and had a detailed discussion regarding the solutions for the sand problems being faced currently. The authority to grant permission for sand mining will be given to the ZP’s in which the scheme is going to be implemented, he informed. There is rule that a house must be built within 90 days under the Basava Vasati program. But without the availability of sand, how can this be achieved asked a member Koragappa Naika on which discussion was held.

Teachers have not received salary!

Speaking at the meeting, Karnadu ZP member Mamata D S Gatti said that the teachers of most of the government schools in Bantwal taluk have not received salary since 4 months. CEO responded to the issue and informed that the issue was due to a problem in the software of the education department and will be rectified within the week. Information regarding 803 families without toilets has been collected from the ZP. Of these, 73 toilets will be built by MRPL. Order has been passed for the construction of the remaining 504 toilets, he informed.

New website launched

ZP president Meenakshi Shantigodu launched the ZP website (www.zpdk.kar.nic.in) Information regarding the ZP administration, schemes and telephone numbers can be found on this website.

Water unit; ZP to oversee

Members let go of party lines and together opposed the low quality work done in the installation of water units under the Karnataka Rural Development Limited (KRDL) because of which the scheme itself has caught rust. Responding to this the CEO said that a technical report will be procured through NITK to make sure if there was improper maintenance and the report will be sent to the government. Legal action will be initiated against the culprits, he assured.

Authority to be handed over to 2 ZP’s in Udupi district

While conducting the progress meeting, mines minister Rajashekhar Patil decided that authority will be provided to two zillas in Udupi district on an experimental basis for sand mining in non-CRZ sand blocks.