Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jul 26: According to the information provided by mines and geology department 19.68 metric tonne of sand that is extracted from non-CRZ zone and backwater of dams is available for construction sector in the wake of prohibition of sand mining in CRZ zone.

Tender is given for sand mining in 17 blocks of non-CRZ zone. It is estimated that these blocks have 4.72 lac metric tonne of sand. However, during monsoon extraction of sand in this area is prohibited. It will start in the month of October.

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Now the sand that is extracted from back water area of Adyapady dam and Shamboor dam is being distributed. It is estimated that Adyapady stock has 3.44 lac metric tonne and Shamboor stocks have 11.7 lac metric tonne of sand.

Karnataka State Mineral Corporation Limited (KSMCL) has got the orders to extract sand by the district sand committee. The sand is being distributed through Maralu Mitra app.

Sand mining in CRZ zone is prohibited due to the restrictions imposed by the green tribunal. The sand mining contractors have decided to submit petition in the Supreme Court questioning the prohibition of sand mining in CRZ area.

Compared to CRZ sand, the price of non-CRZ sand is too high. This will result in increased cost of construction of apartment buildings and houses according to Mahabala Kottary of district civil contractors’ association. Earlier CRZ sand was available at Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 per load but the non-CRZ sand is costing Rs 9,000 per load.