Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 13: As the state government has tightened rules and regulations governing black stone mining, this activity has come to a standstill in the coast. Now the construction industry is apprehensive about facing a shortage of stones and crushed stones.

The miners have to obtain permission from the director general of mines safety (DGS) in order to use explosives at the stone quarries. There are other conditions too. As the DGMS has issued strict instructions not to issue licences to stone quarries which do not comply with these provisions, the department has suspended issuance of licences. About 190 stone quarries located in Dakshina Kannada district are now facing hardships.

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The rules framed are impossible for smaller quarries to comply. Appointment of candidates who have successfully completed the mining safety course approved by the DGMS as safety managers cannot be implemented in smaller quarries. It is said that only a few have completed this course, their pay is exorbitant, and getting approval takes a lot of time. Manoj Shetty, Udupi District Crushers and Quarry Owners Association, said that these conditions have come as a huge challenge for the stone quarries to continue with their operations.

The Undivided Dakshina Kannada District Crusher and Quarry Owners Association has urged the government to implement separate mining policies for the coastal districts where sand and laterite stone are geographically formed.

As the department of mines and geology has stopped issuing licences for sale of crushed stones from March 10 onward, quarrying has come to a standstill in the coast. The quarry owners who run smaller units, have urged the government to draw up separate policy for coastal Karnataka quarries as it is impossible for small scale quarries to get license from the directorate general of mines safety.