: The mining of sand will be allowed only in the reaches that have been designated in advance and nowhere else, District Collector Babu A said.
Reviewing the new sand policy with heads of all line departments here on Tuesday the Collector said that this was a unique exercise and it was not being undertaken in any other State in the country.
He said stringent action would be taken against those caught in mining of sand in places other than the pre-designated reaches.
The Collector listed seven guidelines for sand mining. First on the list is the point the sand mining is banned in reaches that did not have environmental clearance.
No sand mining was allowed 500 metres from bridges, culverts, irrigation and drinking water and groundwater sources, irrigation structures, national highways, and railway lines.
The taking of sand over and above what was required for building was not permitted. Sand should not be used for filling and transport of sand would not be allowed at night under any circumstances. Sale of and was banned and sand should be taken only from reaches for which there was permission from the Irrigation Department, the Collector said.
