Bangalore: Illegal sand mining, transportation made cognisable offence

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 21: In a bid to curb illegal sand mining and transportation, the State Cabinet on Thursday decided to bring in comprehensive amendments to the mineral concession rules of the sand policy to crack down on the sand mafia and making such acts a cognisable offence.

A State Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah decided to constitute sand monitoring committees at district and taluk levels to monitor extraction and movement of sand.

Addressing reporters on the State Cabinet decisions, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said illegal sand mining was rampant in several parts of the State, with skyrocketing of prices of the mineral.

There was no adequate legal mechanism to punish those engaged in illegal extraction but the latest amendments would regulate the sector, he said.

''We have brought in a number of amendments to the mineral concession rules under the sand policy,” he said explaining that the new rules would be notified in two-three days.

In the past, there was a sand policy without the teeth, he said pointing out that the State Cabinet decided to check illegal sand mining by implementing new rules strictly.

Now, officials of the departments of Public Works, Mines and Geology and Revenue would be involved in regulate sand mining activities, the Minister said.

The district-level committee headed by Deputy Commissioner would notify places for sand mining, auction, monitor storage, transport of sand.

The committee has given powers to fix of prices, Jayachandra said mentioning that the price of sand varies in different districts.

The district-level committee would meet once in two months to clear proposals made by the taluk-level committee.

In the past, nobody had the powers to book cases against illegal mining and transportation.

With the amendment to the mineral concession rules, all violations have been made cognisable offences.

The district level committee would also deicide the mode of punishment.

The district-level committees have been given vast powers, including fixing retail prices of sand. The price would be fixed per cubic meter, he said.