Minister takes officials to task for not acting against illegal sand trade

Mangaluru: District minister Dinesh Gundu Rao took officials of the mines and geology department to task for failing to control illegal sand extraction out unabated in the district. Warning action against department's senior geologist Krishnaveni, the minister said stringent measures should be taken to prevent illegal sand extraction.
Chairing a KDP meeting on Monday, the minister said that police department and mines and geology department should work in coordination. They are extracting maximum sand even from river right below bridges, causing huge loss to the exchequer, Rao said. MLC Ivan D'Souza said that mines and geology department and police have failed to stop illegal sand transportation.
In reply to the minister's query, Krishnaveni mentioned a lack of support from police during raids and to register cases, and said that it can be checked effectively if the department gets support from police. Further, a shortage of staff in mines and geology department also poses a hindrance to check the illegal sand extraction, she said.
Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja suggested that the respective gram panchayats may be given the responsibility to extract sand from non-CRZs and supply it. The move will help gram panchayats to earn revenue as well, he said.
Deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP clarified that sand extraction from CRZ areas was halted for four years in compliance with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives. He mentioned that the state already forwarded CRZ regulations, requesting authorisation for traditional sand extraction methods in CRZ zones. He indicated that once the centre approves and notifies the CRZ rules, the obstacles related to sand extraction in CRZ areas would be resolved.
As per mines and geology records, there are 27 sand blocks in non-CRZ areas, and the lease of nine blocks expired. The department installed 60 surveillance cameras to monitor the illegal sand extraction. The department registered 107 cases pertaining to illegal sand extraction and transportation, and a penalty of Rs 98 lakh was collected in the district.