Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 9: Minister for mines and geology, Murugesh Nirani, said that a decision about adopting a new mining policy for the state by simplifying the rules, and also introducing free sand policy with it, has been finalised.

The minister said that separate policy is being framed specifically for the coastal belt of the state as this region has unique issues. Addressing a press meet on Thursday April 8, Nirani said that draft of a separate policy for the coast has already been prepared and discussions were also held with the legislators and MPs from the region.

"With the specific objective of ensuring that it does not become a burden for the people, a separate sand policy for this region is being adopted. For the people building houses within an investment of ten lac rupees, charges levied will be about a hundred to two hundred rupees per tonne. "They will be charged only the transportation cost. In the case of others, royalty as prescribed by the government will have to be recovered. If the government works are executed by contractors, royalty amount will be deducted when paying their bills. All these aspects will be included in the sand policy," he stated.

He also said that sand policy will also have information about where sand can be extracted, and tracking of sand distribution through the centralised GPS system. He felt that the policy, besides being convenient for the people, will result in increased royalty for the government. He said that there is a plan to provide rank-based uniforms to the mining department staff as during raids people fail to identify them.

Nirani said that stone quarries covering less than two acres of land are exempt from getting an explosives licence. As stone quarries in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are within this limit, they will not face problems and shortage of crushed stones will not arise, he stated. He explained that other mines have to obtain licences within 90 days, adding that this condition has been stipulated because of gelatin explosions in the state.