Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jan 6: "There is a demand for forming a separate sand policy for the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. However, the space available in these parts is less. A meeting concerning this is going to be held on Thursday in Mangaluru. It will be held in the presence of deputy commissioners of both the districts, senior officers, principal secretary, directors and concerned department officials. I hope there would be a positive approach to the implementation of this policy. We will also discuss the legal issues which are preventing us from forming the sand policy," said mines and geology minister C C Patil.

After the review meeting with district commissioner, G Jagadeesha, MLAs, mining and geological department officials held at Karkala taluk panchayat hall here on Wednesday, January 6, Patil said, “Over 21 sand blocks have been identified under CRZ in the district and 10,000 metric tonnes of sand was extracted in the past. For the last two and a half years, sand mining stopped in Udupi due to some legal issues. However, once BJP came into power, most of the legal problems were solved and 8,55,000 metric tonnes of sand was extracted."

Sand will be at the lowest price in villages under non-CRZ areas

There are 34 new sand blocks identified in villages by the department under non-CRZ zones for the benefit of the public. Anyone will be able to access the sand for the construction of homes under the Ashraya project or for the construction of toilets under the Swachh Bharat mission. One can take sand from the nearest sand blocks. But a person is not authorised to take more than three metric tonnes. They would then be required to pay a royalty of Rs 350 – Rs 400 to the respective gram panchayats, the minister stated.

There are 37 authorized stone crusher units in the district. The license duration for these units been extended from five to 20 years, he added.

On the directions of chief minister B S Yediyurappa, "I am visiting districts and collecting opinions regarding the sand issue. Based on the opinions which I gather, I will draft a report and submit it to the chief minister," C C Patil said.  

Deputy commissioner G Jagadeesha, Karkala MLA  Sunil Kumar, Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat, taluk panchayat president Soubhagya Madivala, zilla panchayat member, Sumith Shetty, personal secretary of mining, minister KC Virupaksha, assistant commissioner Raju K, district forest officer Ashish and others were present.