Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 24: Sand mining in coastal regulatory zones (CRZ), which had come to a grinding halt about six months back, has partly resumed in Dakshina Kannada district. People who had undertaken construction of houses and buildings, labour class which entirely depended on construction industry, and sand merchants have now heaved a sigh of relief.

In normal course, blanket ban on sand mining is placed by the district administration here when the rainy season begins. However, this year, sand extraction had not begun since August 16 because of various reasons like not holding auction process, delay in identification of sand blocks and some other technical reasons. Sand transporters, lorry owners and others involved with the business had also held protests against the undue delay. Even the people's representatives had brought pressure on the district administration to complete all the processes as soon as possible and permit sand mining at the earliest.

Because of delay in resumption of sand extraction, sand prices had skyrocketed from Rs 3,000 to 4,000 in the past per load to around Rs 20,000. This had turned into a huge problem for those whose budgets were small.

Those who have secured licenses have now begun sand extraction in CRZ areas in rivers Netravati and Phalguni. However, the industry is now facing paucity of labour, as most of the workers involved with sand extraction have returned to their native places as sand mining had totally stopped. As the labourers have started to return to the district, the industry is likely to pick up full momentum in a few days.

As per the bathymetric survey, 8.5 lac tonnes of sand is available in rivers Netravati and Phalguni. This will account for 85,000 truckloads of sand. 13 blocks have been inside River Netravati where 4.30 lac tonnes of sand is available. In Phalguni, nine blocks having a total sand of 4.20 lac tonnes of sand have been identified.

Even after a meeting chaired by the chief minister in the presence of in-charge ministers of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts, minister for mines and geology, legislators from the three districts and top officials was held at Bengaluru on September 25 to find a solution to the problem, no solution was in the offing.

The sand shortage is likely to be fully addressed once sand extraction in non-CRZ areas begins. Tender has been issued on November 1 5 for extraction of sand from 15 blocks in the river beds of Rivers Netravati, Kumaradhara and Gundya rivulet on November 15. It will take 45 days for the process to complete. The tenders floated in the past for non-CRZ areas had failed as only two had shown interest because of strict clauses included in the rules.

There are hopes of more people participating in the tender process now.