The district-level inauguration of the first phase of the issue of online pass for the distribution of sand from sand ghats will be inaugurated at a function to be held at Piravom on October 10.
The issuance of pass will be completely computerised in a phased manner, District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareed said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the expert committee in connection with sand mining and distribution chaired by the Collector.
In the first phase, online pass will be implemented for distribution of sand from ghats in three municipalities and 18 panchayats. The meeting also decided to open the sand ghats on October 1.
To begin with, the receipt of applications and issue of online passes will be conducted through village panchayat and municipal offices. Online submission of applications through the district website will be facilitated during the second phase.
The District Collector is in charge of the central control room entrusted with monitoring the issue of passes. The control room will function from the collectorate with the technical assistance of the National Informatics Centre.
The District Development Committee held in July had approved the decision for the issue of online passes for the distribution of sand in the district. The move is expected to put an end to complaints and allegations of irregularities in connection with sand distribution. The system introduced in Thrissur district was found successful.
Once the application is received, online passes encrypted with barcodes will be issued depending on the availability of sand. Fees should be deposited in the bank account.
Information on the delivery of sand will also reach the collectorate through the computer system to be set up at ghats. The applicant can arrange the vehicle for transporting the sand. The number of the vehicle should be informed in advance since that too will be included in the pass to be issued. The price of sand will be fixed in advance each season. A registration fee of Rs. 10 will be charged from each applicant.
