Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Oct 29: Lokesh G Mendon Uppoor, president Udupi district sand boat labourers’ association at a press meet on Wednesday October 28 said that sand mining is being conducted everywhere.
According to Lokesh, the present district authority has given permission for 169 association members to carry out traditional sand mining and as per Government order it has identified 18 clusters.
The district sand in charge committee has 26 members with the district commissioner as its president. Various department representatives from environment, fishing, forest, public welfare, transport, irrigation, earth and mining are in the committee.
He added that the government has around 2000 people as its workforce in the coastal district.
According to Lokesh, the state government is expected to earn a sum of nearly Rs 6 crore from sand mining in 2015-16 and the state will distribute 25% of the total amount to the respective panchayats.
He also added that as per NITK Mangaluru authority's order on sand transportation, the committee should prioritize the locals and excess sand should go to other districts.
Sudhakar D Amin, Panagala, Jayaram Bandhary, Siddhapura, Uday Poojary Kallianpur and others were present.