Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 20: As per indications, licences relating to undertaking sand mining activity in Coastal Regulatory Zones (CRZ) in the district are likely to be issued in a couple of days. This has given rise to the hope that the sand shortage problem that was affecting construction activities in the district, might get solved soon.

In case of non-CRZ areas, tender has been called for the third time, by making further relaxations in sand rules. As such, more people are expected to take part in the process, and there is a chance of sand extraction beginning in all the sand blocks.

Dakshina Kannada District Sand Monitoring Committee has issued tender publication on November relating to sand extraction in 15 blocks in rovers Netravati, Kumaradhara and Gundia. As the tender process needs 45 days to complete, sand mining will not begin in non-CRZ areas till then.

Deputy director of mines and geology department, Sumitra, said that the process of issuing licences to 76 persons who have been approved to extract sand from 12 sand blocks in CRZ areas is under way and they would be issued in a couple of days. Thereafter, sand extraction will begin and people will start to get need-based sand.

In case of non-CRZ areas, although tenders had been called twice, only two had become eligible because of certain stringent stipulations. Taking into consideration requests from contractors and out of humanitarian considerations, certain rules were relaxed, and the lease period was also extended to five years. Therefore, in all likelihood, more people will take part in the current tender. Sources expect sand extraction in non-CRZ areas to begin after December 20.

In the meanwhile, contractors are unhappy about drastic reduction in the number of sand licences. They point out that in the past, 462 licences had been issued for sand mining, which was brought down to 200. This has further been curtailed to 76 now, they say. They fell that this situation will give rise to acute sand shortage in the district.