Separate sand policy for coast to be discussed

Mines and Geology Minister Rajashekar Patil said that the topic of formulating a separate sand policy for coastal districts would be raised at the cabinet sub-committee meeting.

At a meeting held to address the sand scarcity and delay in giving permits to 170 license holders in the district, the minister said that the policy should be framed based on the demand for sand in the district.

He had instructed the district administration to send a proposal based on an elaborate study, he added.

MLA Raghupathi Bhat said that the traditional form of sand mining was in existence in the coastal belt. “A sand policy formed keeping in mind the whole state will prove unscientific in coastal districts,” he observed.

He urged that geographical aspects should be considered and a separate policy should be framed to suit the needs of coastal districts.

The minister added that there were 23 sandbars in the non-CRZ areas. He added that the agencies like PWD, PRED KRIDL would be given permission to take up sand mining in non-CRZ areas. “The two gram panchayats covering the 23 sandbars will be in-charge of the extraction,” he stated.