Sand transporters will be given time till August 10 to comply with the district administration's directive on installation of global positioning system (GPS) device, following the colour code, and fixing the prescribed sticker on their lorries, Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj said here on Monday.
Speaking to presspersons after a meeting with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of sand contractors, sand boat owners, workers and building material transporters, Mr. Ponnuraj said that action would be initiated against violation of rules after August 10. The permits of owners of such lorries would be cancelled, he said.
The task force that had decided to adopt these measures to check illegal transport of sand to Kerala would be given the task of monitoring the installation of GPS devices. A control room would be set up in the office of the district disaster management cell on the Deputy Commissioner's office premises, he said and added that a nodal officer would also be appointed.
Storage of sand
During the meeting between the JAC and the Deputy Commissioner, which was held in the presence of the media, it came to light that the law was not clear on the storage of sand. To a question from JAC members, Mr. Ponnuraj said that sand storage was legal only if it was meant for “own use”.
Mr. Ponnuraj said that from now on, storage of sand would only be permitted near the place of extraction.
Asked about the law under which the district administration had mandated the installation of GPS devices, Mr. Ponnuraj said that although there was no law on this subject, the task force set up to deal with the issue had the authority to adopt any method to address the issue and help it “implement the law in letter and spirit”.
Asked whether there was any punishment for those who did not pay royalty, Mr. Ponnuraj said that a register of “repeated offenders” would be maintained so that they could be booked for theft.
