From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 19: Mines and geology minister Murugesh R Nirani has announced that the state government will come out with the new sand mining policy which will ensure that the poor and ordinary people constructing houses at a cost below Rs 10 lac will be supplied free sand for the construction.

In his reply to a question from C N Balakrishna in the state assembly on Friday during the question hour, the minister said the new policy will also ensure that the middle classes constructing houses under the Ashraya housing scheme and in rural areas at less cost will be supplied sad at prices ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per tonne.

Murugesh Nirani 

The state government is fully aware of the fact that the poorer sections will not be able to buy sand at exorbitant prices and was planning to ensure free supply to such people. "This facility will be provided in grama panchayats and civic limits," he said.

The minister said the state government has already permitted the poorer sections of the people to take sand from small ponds and streams in grama panchayat limits by using bullock carts. A notification identifying 193 sand reserves in 87 blocks from where the transportation of sand by bullock carts is permitted has already been issued.

While the transportation of sand by bullock carts is permitted in first, second, and third-grade ponds and streams, Karnataka State Minerals Corporation and Hutti Gold Mines Ltd have been permitted to extract sand from fourth, fifth, sixth-grade lakes, rivers, dams, reservoirs and barrages as also backwaters of dams and separate sand blocks for extraction have been identified, Nirani said.

The minister said he has found that many people were illegally transporting sand repeatedly by using a single permit and made it clear that officials have been strictly warned to prevent such illegal transport and take stringent action.

Mentioning that he had already taken steps to suspend two officers found indulging in illegal activities after conducting departmental inquiries. "We will not spare anybody found guilty of carrying out illegal or corrupt activities,’’ he warned.

The minister said he had come across several complaints from people regarding illegal sand extraction and transport and pointed out that the complaints involved the collusion of the mines and geology department as well police, forest, environment and even Pollution Control Board.

"We are planning to introduce a single-window clearance system to eliminate all such complaints,’’ he said.

Members cutting across party lines from C N Balakrishna, H D Revanna, Dr Annadani and Nadagouda voiced concern over the difficulties faced by people due to illegal sand extraction and transport, which was being carried out even during nights. The minister promised to tackle all problems in a systematic manner.