From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 16: The Public Works Department (PWD) of Karnataka will be mandatorily required to use only manufactured sand for construction of buildings, bridges and other works.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said the decision was taken after the recent Supreme Court verdict on regulation of sand mining.

He said the Government has also decided to replace a sand policy of 2011 with a new policy in consonance with the apex court’s verdict.

The minister said an order has been issued to PWD to instructing it use only manufactured sand.

The comprehensive newly policy would deal with sand, crushing of sand, manufacturing of sand. Currently, there were different rules for sand mining and manufacturing, he said.

The National Green Tribunal of the apex court had ordered the States to inform of regulations framed since the February 2013 order of the Supreme Court to ensure regulated mining.

The States have also been asked to submit information details of how many persons have been granted permission by the Environment Ministry or the State environment authorities to carry on mining activity including the details of licenses or leases granted.

The estimated demand for sand is about 33 lakh tonnes a month in the State while the supply is only of 8-9 lakh tonnes resulting in increase in the prices of the construction material, Jayachandra said.

A Secretary-level committee, comprising those from mining and industry departments, among others, was formed last week to work on a comprehensive draft on mining and stone-crushing policy and it would submit recommendations within a month.

Identification of “vacant sand blocks” is on, he said.

Units for manufacturing sands are coming up in a big way near Bidadi on the city outskirts.

Sand mining is presently taking place in a haphazard way with the PWD not doing the regulation task, the Minister added.