Sand mining in non-CRZ: Rules causing impediments

• District administration sends proposal requesting simplification

Mangaluru: The rule that the contractor must have worked in traditional sand mining for a period of at least 5 years post which he is eligible to extract sand in non-CRZ areas has become an impediment in connection to sand mining in the district.

The district administration has decided to send a proposal to the state government requesting it to simplify the rule thereby giving opportunity for sand mining.

Though tenders have been called twice for sand mining in non-CRZ areas, it was possible for only two contractors to participate due to the strict rule. The rule was made a little lenient and the tender were called for the third time on Nov 15^th to which 15 persons had applied. Of the applicants only 6 contractors have the necessary experience of 5 years in traditional sand mining while the remaining 9 are not eligible. Therefore the district administration has decided to submit a proposal requesting the rule to be further simplified.

Besides this, the district administration has decided to give the remaining non-CRZ blocks for which no tenders had been submitted to government agencies. A district sand action meeting will be conducted in this connection.

During the Jan 4^th meeting with MLA’s, ministers and officials from the coast in Bengaluru, regarding the sand issue faced in karavali region, giving a solution to the non-availability of qualified contractors for sand mining at non-CRZ blocks, the Minister for Mines and Geology Rajashekhar B Patil had directed the deputy commissioner’s to prepare an outline for giving the responsibility of sand mining to the related gram panchayats, Karnataka road development ltd, Nirmiti Kendra and the public works departments.

Permission for the remaining 10 blocks

22 blocks have been identified in the district under CRZ of which permission has already been given to 72 contractors to begin sand extraction from 12 sand blocks. Permission for the remaining 10 blocks has been provided by the mines and geology department and hence, it has been decided to give the responsibility to the remaining 24 eligible contractors in the first phase.

During the Bengaluru meeting on Jan 4^th, the Minister for Mines and Geology Rajashekhar B Patil had also directed the DC’s to take action to get permission for the remaining 10 sand blocks under the CRZ.

No calls are coming

A control room had been established at the deputy commissioner’s office to understand and respond to problems faced by the public in connection to the sand problem in the district. But, so far no call has come, informs the district administration.

“A proposal will be submitted to the government requesting it to simply the rule where in a contractor must have a minimum experience of 5 years in traditional sand mining to be eligible for sand mining at non-CRZ blocks. Contract will be given for the remaining 10 CRZ sand blocks. The district administration has taken action for the complete availability of sand and now there are no complaints from the public as well regarding the sand problem. There is information that the price of the sand has reduced and is available at the cost of Rs 4,000 to 5,000,” said Sasikanth Senthil, Deputy Commissioner Dakshina Kannada district

Special Report