Only Traditional Methods Allowed to Extract Sand – DC Ibrahim
Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim held a discussion with sand miners at his office here, on June 22, regarding the extraction of the resource in the monsoon months.
From June 15, a ban on sand mining was imposed and it is still being mined illegally. Instructions were also given to miners to clean the area and remove all illegal structures but it has still not been done. The DC said that a task force would be formed to demolish all illegal structures and hereafter only traditional sand extraction would be allowed. The extracted sand will be deposited in the stockyard and the sand will then be supplied. “Since sand mining has now gone out of control, it is necessary to follow the guidelines to extract sand. We will bring stringent rules and regulations. Now the traditional boats are also being extended and they have become like barges,” he said.
Ibrahim also said that most of the people are using barges instead of the traditional boats to extract sand, which is illegal. “They are even using bulldozers, JCBs, dumpers and loaders for extracting sand, which is a violation of the court order. The court has banned mechanized sand extraction but still sand miners use machines for the job. There are more than 800 JCB’s extracting sand from the river. This is not a small issue. We will form a committee with 7 members to monitor the activities, it will visit the sand extracting area and submit the report. Many times when the police seize the sand along with the vehicles, the owners refuse to acknowledge the wrong doing and try to shirk their duties. But when the owner is transporting sand to any place, it is his duty to see that the proper amount of sand is legally transported to the right person,” he said.
He also ordered that by June 25, all illegal structures have to be removed and the areas should be cleaned. The licenses of those not following the rules will not be renewed. He also warned that in Udupi sand extraction has been totally banned and if sand miners want to retain their business of extracting sand in DK, they should follow the rules and regulations.
Mayur from DK Sand Miners Association said that government officials have demolished sheds without mercy. “As per our knowledge, we have cleaned the area on June 15. But on June 13, government officials came along with bulldozers and demolished all the sheds. We are ready to follow all the rules and regulations. Let the government take action on those who violate the rules,” he said.
ADC Kumar said that according to the CRZ norms, construction of illegal structure is not allowed and is a violation of the rules.
SP Bhushan Borase, DCP Shantharaju, officials from the Health Department and others were also present.