Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Sep 29: As the permission given by the department of environment for extracting sand from the sand blocks located in coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) areas in Dakshina Kannada district ended, sand extraction came to a halt about two weeks ago.
Clearance to remove sand from CRZ zones had earlier been given till September 16. Now, the entire process has to be put through afresh for getting permission for sand mining again. Therefore, the people will not get CRZ sand for a period of at least three months. The officials however are optimistic that sand shortage might not be experienced in the district as sand extraction in non-CRZ areas is continuing.
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In the past, sand mining in CRZ areas had ended on December 26, 2019. After obtaining the approval of Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Committee, the process of approval was handled in November 2020, sand extraction began again. From November till now, 2,35,414 metric tonnes of sand has been extracted. To remove eight sand blocks from Netravati river, four in Gurpur river and one in Shambhavi river, a contract was given to 105 contractors in two phases.
Sand Mining ban was in operation for two months from June 1. The ban ended on July 31 and the contractors were allowed to extract sand from mid-August. Through the e-tender process, a contract for 16 blocks has been sanctioned. Stay order obtained against 30 blocks earlier has been lifted by the court now. As a tender process will be conducted for this sand too, sand mining will begin there soon.
The fishermen are yet to identify the sand blocks in CRZ. After this information is provided, a bathymetric survey will be conducted and a technical report is obtained. The district sand management committee will check the report and send it to Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Committee for approval. After the approval is obtained, fresh sand mining will begin.
It is learnt that in Udupi CRZ areas, sand extraction permission will be issued shortly.