Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 19: At last, sand extraction began in five sand blocks located at Uppoor, Havanje, and Mooduthonse villalges in the district on Tuesday December 18. These places fall under coastal regulatory zone.

12 out of 33 persons to whom licences had been issued and who had paid royalties, began to extract sand. District deputy commissioner, Priyanka Mary Francis, said that one of them has supplied sand to Nirmiti Kendra while the others have not yet begun supplying the sand.

File photo

As per the survey, 16,910 metric tonnes of sand, which works out approximately to 1,691 truck loads, is available in these five blocks. Out of them, ten percent loads have to be provided to Nirmiti Kendra, which undertake works on government projects. In some among the blocks now identified, sand would be available only for a couple of days, while other blocks would be exhausted in five to six days time.

In the recent bathymetric survey, it is said, the sand available in the district has been calculated at about 25 lac tonnes. If this report is right, all the 171 permit holders might get lease to extrand sand. Office bearers of Sand Boat Workers Association expect price of sand to fall in such a scenario.