Start to Extracting Sand by Dec 17 and provide it to the Public – DC Priyanka Mary Francis
Udupi: Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis has instructed the sand mining licence holders to extract sand from the sandbars in the district by December 17 and provide the sand to the public. If anyone fails to follow the order, their licence will be cancelled.
She was speaking after Chairing the meeting with 45 sand mining license holders at the DC office Manipal on Tuesday, December 11. The Udupi district has been facing severe sand scarcity and the people of the district are not getting the sand. 45 persons had applied for a license to remove the sandbars in the district. Out of the 45 persons 11 have already obtained the licence to remove the sand from the marked sandbars. 26 persons have paid the royalty and the remaining 8 are yet to pay the royalty to the district administration.
DC Priyanka Mary expressed displeasure since the 11 persons who have already obtained the license had not started extracting sand. She instructed all the 45 persons to complete the necessary formalities and start extracting sand by December 17 and supply it to the people of the District.
The district administration has given licence for sand extraction to those who had applied, but still, the extraction of sand and the distribution process has not started. The district administration is ready to assist the licence holders to start extracting the sand. If any of the licence holders have any problems, they should inform the district administration, she said.
The DC heard the grievances of the licence holders facing problems with the GPS arrangements, availability of yard to stock the sand etc and assured to provide land to stock the sand. She also said that the police will provide security for the licence holders if necessary.
The License holders have urged the SP to stop illegal sand mining in Kapu, Manipura Bridge, Udyavar and Kurkal area. The SP has also assured of taking appropriate action against illegal sand mining.
T Bhoobalan Assistant Commissioner Kundapur, Geologist Padmaja and Niranjan were also present for the meeting.