No sand extraction boats in vicinity of rivers during ban: Deputy Commissioner

Having banned sand extraction from rivers in coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) and non-CRZ areas between June 15 and August 15, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim has now ordered removal of sand extraction boats and loading equipment from the vicinity of rivers.

“No boats and sand loading equipment should be kept on the river banks; they should be kept beyond 2 km from the river,” said the order issued on Wednesday.

The order comes after a visit of the DC, the Additional DC and the Assistant Commissioner to sand extraction locations on Wednesday and finding continuation of extraction. An enraged DC took the officials to task and ordered removal of all equipment immediately.

Mr. Ibrahim also ordered all temporary structures, including sheds, erected on river banks, to be removed. Besides seizure of boats and equipment if found on river banks, permits of sand extractors would be cancelled without notice, he warned.

Meanwhile, in a separate magisterial order, Mr. Ibrahim on Wednesday authorised 13 checkposts of different departments located on National and State Highways leading out of the district, to inspect all vehicles moving through them. He has asked them to seize any vehicle found carrying sand and book cases.

Rampant extraction

While sand extraction in the CRZ area is banned to facilitate marine breeding during the monsoon, it is banned in non-CRZ areas as the sand blocks are submerged in waters.

As much as 7.81 lakh tonnes of sand is permitted to be extracted from April 16 this year to April 15 next year from rivers in the CRZ area by the District Sand Monitoring Committee. Since the CRZ sand is available at much cheaper rate, it is in high demand in far-off areas including Bengaluru.

As a result, rampant extraction as well as inter-district transportation of sand has been in vogue. Despite complete prohibition on inter-state transportation, extensive illegal transportation to Kerala was being done, officials said.