Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, Apr 23: A review meeting was convened by deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim on Thursday April 23 at his office here. Sand mining, social and educational survey (census) and groundwater were the major issues discussed at the meeting.

Census

Regarding the ongoing social and educational census, DC Ibrahim said that altogether 38 percent of the survey has been completed in Dakshina Kannada ddistrict and the remaining 60 percent has to be completed within a week.

"There was a video conference with the chief minister Siddaramaiah where we discussed about the census. As per the review meeting held earlier, enumerators are supposed to visit houses and collect the details. General public should give full details and should not hide anything from them. Aadhar card, EPIC and ration cards should be kept with them during the census. To download the forms people can visit the websites of the Mangaluru City Corporation, the DC's office and the zilla panchayat. (www.mangalorecity.gov.in, www.dk.nic.in and http://zpdk.kar.nic.in)," he said.

"The chief minister is very strict in this matter and he has said that the deputy commissioner will be held responsible if the caste census is not completed by April 30. No one should fill the form with pencil, it has to be done with ball pen," he said.

Sand Mining

Speaking to media persons, DC Ibrahim said, "Four sandbars have been given with State Environment Impact Assessment Authority clearance letter under Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) at Netravati river upto 12 km. As many as 86 permits have been granted for 103 acres of land for sand mining. Twelve sandbars have been give with State Environment Impact Assessment Authority clearance letter under CRZ at Gurpur river upto 17 km, and 82 permits have been given for 92 acres of land for sand mining. In non-CRZ areas sand mining is banned and if anybody is found using the CRZ permit for mining in non-CRZ area, strict action will be taken."

Rs 175.20 lac as royalty, Rs 116.80 lac as administration fee and Rs 2.92 lac as SSP book are being collected, he added.

Followings are the details given by DC:

Illegal Sand Mining/Transportation caught from March 15 to April 15:

1. Illegal sand transportation - 47 cases, fine collected Rs 5.83 lac
2. Excess weight in sand transportation - 35 cases, fine collected Rs 2.64 lac
3. Unauthorized sand mining area - 4 cases, fine collected Rs fine 2.78 lac
4. Inter-state sand transportation (Kerala) - 6 cases, fine collected Rs 1.45 lac

Vehicles seized during the operation held on April 20 and 21:

1. Mangaluru taluk - 45
2. Beltangady taluk - 34
3. Puttur taluk - 36
4. Bantwal taluk - 46
5. Moodbidri -15
6. Kadaba -1
7. Sullia taluk - 28

Total vehicles seized - 205

On this occasion, the DC also laid down various rules and regulations to curb illegal sand mining. "Showcause notice will be given to vehicle owners who carry excess load of sand. They have answer the notice within three days. The forest department will be inspecting the vehicles at forest checkposts. Ten-wheeler trucks have been banned from entering the district. Tahsildars have been instructed to inspect the sand carrying vehicles every day atleast for 30 minutes. Under the MMRDA Act, seized vehicles will be fined upto Rs 25,000. Every vehicle carrying sand has to possess weigh slip whenever they are asked."

He also said that 500 officials have been authorized to inspect the sand trucks.

Groundwater

An inspection done by the District Groundwater Authority has revealed that there are a total of 5,848 public borewells and open wells in the district.

Addressing the media, DC Ibrahim said, "If anybody wants to dig a borewell or an open well within a radius of 500 meters from a public water source, they should first get permission from the District Groundwater Authority. Every borewell driller has to be registered under the Authority. In Dakshina Kannada district, a total of 20 rigs have been registered. Rigs which are not registered can be confiscated by the sub-divisional officer, tahsildar, taluk panchayat officials and other authorized officials. To spread awareness among the general public, the District Groundwater Authority is will put up banners in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts very soon."

District Groundwater Authority has 19 borewells and 35 open wells under observation to check the average static water level in Dakshina Kannada. The water levels are as follows:

Beltangady - 9.54 meter
Bantwal - 11.54 meter
Mangaluru - 16.38 meter
Puttur - 9.50 meter
Sullia - 11.25 meter

Average static water level of Dakshina Kannada - 11.81 meter from ground level.

Sadashiv Prabhu addititon deputy commissioner, zilla panchayat CEO Srividya and others were present.