Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 6: The state principal secretary in the department of forests, biodiversity and environment has reviewed the additional condition imposed when permitting extraction of sand from sand blocks located within coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) areas.
Now the concerned have been permitted to remove sand from August 1 instead of October prescribed earlier. The Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Authority committee had, vide order dated February 14, 2019, allowed clearance of sand blocks in rivers. In the order, the period from June 1 to September 30 was referred to as fish breeding period and therefore, sand extraction was banned. As such, the chief minister and state principal secretary for CRZ had been approached with an appeal to review the order as fishing ban is imposed only for two months from June 1 to July 31 and not as mentioned in the said order.
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Local MLA K Raghupati Bhat said that the forest, biodiversity and environment department secretary has permitted sand extraction from August 1. Therefore he has urged the deputy commissioner of the district to convene the seven-member committee meeting and issue permission to people holding sand extraction licence to clear the sand blocks.