Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (SP)
Mangaluru/Udupi, May 28: Sand extraction will remain suspended in both coastal regulatory zones and non-coastal regulatory zones in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts for a period two months from June 1 to July 31.
During the current period from November 2020 to May 10, 3,93,539 metric tonnes of sand was extracted. In Udupi district CRZ, 4.55 lac metric tonnes of sand was extracted.
The licences issued for sand extraction in CRZ are valid till September. Therefore, those who hold licences can extract sand from August 1 to September 30. After that, bathometric survey, identification of sand blocks, permission from the department of environment etc have to be obtained afresh.
In the CRZ of Dakshina Kannada district, 2,26,852 tonnes of sand was extracted till May 10. The previous sand mining period had come an end on December 26, 2019. After a gap of 11 months, it had started again in November, 2020. Within the CRZ eight sand blocs in River Netravati, four in Gurpur river and one block in Shambhavi river had been cleared for sand extraction by the department of environment. In two phases, 105 contractors were given licences to remove sand. In non-CRZ area, 16 blocks were allotted through tender and 1.67 lac metric tonnes of sand was extracted.
Labour shortage
Because of coronavirus second wave and lockdown, sand mining sector is facing acute shortage of workers. Therefore most of the boats engaged in this activity have already been anchored on the shore. Most of the workers belong to Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, and they have returned to their states. As constructions activities have been sluggish in the district because of lockdown, no one faced acute shortage of sand this time.
In the coast, sand extraction is banned for two months in monsoon months for allowing the fishes to breed. Sand extraction in CRZ will begin again in August and will continue till the licence period ends, says deputy director of mines and geology department of Dakshina Kannada, Niranjan, and senior geologist, Udupi, Sandeep.