Udupi: Sand shortage - delegation meets union environment minister

Udupi, 15 Nov 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: The issue of sand shortage and rules governing issuance of sand extraction licenses had become a bone of contention between the government and the people's representatives here, ending in stalemate. The deputy commissioner had, thereafter, sought clarification on whether the sand extraction should be entrusted to only those who were traditionally mining sand before 2011 or whether others too can be given licenses, by way of a letter that was forwarded through the state government. They also had questioned as to how the sand extractors involved with traditional method of sand extraction can be identified.

People's representatives of the district met union minister for forests and environment, Dr Harshvardhan, on Wednesday and urged him to address these issues.

The minister summoned joint secretary in the department, Riteshkumar Singh, and held discussions with him. MLA, K Raghupati Bhat, who was a member of the delegation, said that Dr Harshvardhan has instructed his secretary to inform the state government that these decisions have to be taken by the state government, and that licenses for sand extraction can also be issued to those who began sand extraction in traditional fashion after 2011. Accordingly, the state will get suitable direction from the union government, Bhat said.

Union minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, leader of the opposition in legislative council, Kota Srinivas Poojary, chief whip of the opposition in the assembly, V Sunil Kumar, MLAs, Lalaji R Mendon, and B M Sukumar Shetty, were members of the delegation which met the union minister.