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

Mangaluru, Mar 6: State minister for mines and geology Vinay Kulkarni on Sunday March 6 said that the problem of sand scarcity was prevalent in the entire state and that the problem would be resolved once all the 549 sand blocks were auctioned.

Addressing a press meet at the Circuit House here after holding a review meeting with the officials concerned, Kulkarni said, "The issue of scarcity of sand has come to my notice, and I have already discussed the issue with the mines and geology department. Sand scarcity is there in the entire state. We have identified 549 sand blocks, out of which 200 have already been auctioned. The remaning blocks will be auctioned soon, and then there will be no problem.

"The department is giving more importance to manufactured sand. We should also give importance to groundwater recharge and environment as we know groundwater level is decreasing," he added.

"In Karnataka there are 86 manufactured sand units. Per year, the state requires 28,000 lac metric tonne of sand, out of which 10,000 lac metric tonne is manufactured. People should come forward to establish more number of manufactured sand units. We will provide government land and all other facilities for the purpose. I have ordered all the DCs to provide necessary facilities in this regard and also to help double the production of existing units. We will also relax application rules to estbalish and run the units. Establishment of a single manufactured sand unit costs Rs 5 crore, but the government provides subsidy," he said.

He also said that he has directed the district administrations to give importance to sand obtained from dredging, but added that the final decision in this matter was left to the DCs.

Regarding sand mining in CRZ zone, he said a proposal seeking licences for traditional miners has been sent to the union government. "The central government is expected to give clearance within 20 days. Once we get clearance from the union environment ministry, we will provide opportunity to mine in CRZ zone.

"There is a demand for sand in this region as well as other parts of Karnataka. Already 38 blocks have been identified under non-CRZ zone, out of which, we held auctions for 23 blocks. Eleven miners participated in the auctions but only five qualified. Others did not qualify as the rules were strict. We will relax the procedure and call for tenders again. As the rules were strict, everyone could not take part. In the next 20 days, we will call tenders for the remaining blocks.

Health minister U T Khader, MLC Ivan D'Souza, and MLAs J R Lobo and Mohiuddin Bava were present.