Manipal: The failure of the district sand monitoring committee in implementing policy decisions on sand mining has paved way to scarcity of sand in the district, said ZP member Ganapathi Sriyan. He was speaking at the 23rd general body meeting of the Zilla Panchayat, Udupi held at Dr V S Acharya auditorium Rajathadri, Manipal here on September 3.
There is an acute shortage of sand in the district but the district sand monitoring committee seems to be reluctant to hold any discussions on the issue. Illegal transportation of sand to other states has drastically increased but the Mines and Geology department is silent on the issue. Developmental works have been stalled in the district and houses constructed under government funded schemes are facing financial crisis due to rise in the sand prices.
MLC Pratapchandra Shetty said that contractors were operating sand mining units at places other than those specified in their licenses. The resources were constantly exhausted for the benefit of others rather than the locals.
Ananth Mowadi said that a uniform sand mining law should be formulated for the three districts of Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada. Uniformity in the prizes should also be followed.
The members also urged installation of CCTV cameras at dredging points so as to keep a strong vigil on sand mining activities. Gram panchayats should be stressed to install CCTV cameras at the dredging points. ZP CEO Kangavalli said that she will discuss the issue with the deputy commissioner.
PWD executive engineer said that two zones are identified for sand mining. The CRZ zone is regulated by the Mines and Geology department and the non-CRZ zone is regulated by the PWD department. 11 sand blocks are sanctioned under CRZ zone and 2 of them have been sanctioned to NHAI. The NHAI has paid Rs 21,00,000 royalty to the state government.
One of the members said that Tahsildars were sending their representatives but were not attending the ZP meeting. The CEO assured of issuing show cause notices to such Tahsildars.
Another member said that students have demanded boiled rice instead of white rice in BCM hostels. The deputy secretary directed the Food and Civil Supplies department to solve the issue.
5,750 applications for 94(C) were received in Karkal taluk, 8,409 applications in Kundapur taluk and 2,059 applications in Udupi taluk.
Karkala ZP member Uday Kotian said that there are many illegal slaughter houses in Udupi district and demanded action on the same. He also said that offenders were illegally transporting cows reared by poor farmers.
ZP Vice President Prakash T. Mendon; Indira Shetty, President of Social Justice Standing Committee; Gauri Devadiga, President of Education and Health Standing Committee; Arun Shetty Padur, President of Agriculture and Industries Standing Committee and others were present.
