Dist. administration issues 168 sand mining permits to keep demand-supply chain intact

by news
•
May 7, 2015

Mangaluru: The district administration tightened its grip on the sand mining process to curb illegal mining, which is causing a huge revenue loss to the exchequer. In a crackdown, a total of 205 Lorries illegally transporting sand,  have been seized from seven taluks of Dakshina Kannada sending a strong message to stop sand mining and transportation through illegal means.

The Deputy Commissioner, A B Ibrahim at a  press briefing told the scribes present, that the administration has identified 38 sand blocks falling in the Non-coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) and 19 sand blocks in CRZ limits. A total of 168 permits were issued to carry out mining – 86 in CRZ and 82 in Non-CRZ area.  In Non-CRZ areas,  330 acres have been earmarked for mining, to cater the demands of the public, while 185 acres have been identified in the CRZ.

As many as 500 officials from various departments have been authorized to capture illegal mining and transport of sand, the DC informed.The Deputy Commissioner said “the administration is toiling in full swing to put an end to unlawful mining. The complaints about illegal mining were put across to respective officers across the district and this was followed by a series of raids”, the DC announced.

The administration has collected royalty fees of 1.75 crore, administration fee up to 1.16 crore and 2.92 Crores has been collected through Special Sand Permits from March 15 to April 21. Across the district as many as 92 cases have been booked for violating norms of sand mining and transportation, the DC said

The Deputy Commissioner rued the fact, that despite the administration’s best efforts and swift and tough action against violators, the situation has not entirely come under its control.

Socio-Education Census

The district has managed to complete 38% of  the caste census that was kicked off on April 11. The DC announced this at the press briefing and said that he had informed the Chief Minister of Karnataka on the progress of the survey. The DC said that he hoped that before April 31,  the district would be able to cover maximum number of houses. He instructed Block Education Officers to monitor the work of enumerators to ensure prompt data collection.