Commence extraction of sand at litigation-free blocks immediately: Thimmappa

Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa addressing officials at a meeting of the Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat on Friday.

Expressing displeasure with the district administration over the delay in resolving the sand scarcity problem in the district, Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa asked officials to take measures to commence extraction of sand in litigation-free blocks at the earliest.

He was speaking at a special meeting of the zilla panchayat held here on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner M. Lokesh said at the meeting that the district has 37 authorised sand extraction blocks on riverbanks. According to the new sand policy, auctioning of extraction rights in eight blocks was held in March 2017, and four blocks have become operational. In addition to this, two blocks have been reserved to supply sand for government work.

In the second phase, the process of auctioning of the extraction rights in the remaining 27 blocks was initiated in November 2017. However, a person whose application for participating in the auction was rejected approached the courts, which subsequently stayed the process, he said.

K.E. Kanthesh and Yogesh, members of the ZP, said that owing to the failure of Mines and Geology officials to handle the auctioning process properly, there has been delay in commencement of extraction in the 27 authorised blocks. Consequently, people who have taken up construction of residential and commercial buildings are being compelled to purchase sand from illegal sources for high rates, they said, adding that the sand illegally extracted from non-notified areas in the district was being sold in Bengaluru. They alleged that the police were hand in glove with those involved in this illegal trade.

Mr. Thimmappa took the officials present to task over the matter. He said the formalities related to commencement of sand extraction and distribution at the four other litigation-free blocks from the first phase should be completed as soon as possible. Even in blocks reserved for government work, part of the sand should be allotted to the public also, he said.

He also ordered stepping up of vigil at check-posts and along national highways to prevent illegal transportation of sand.

MLCs M.B. Bhanuprakash and R. Prasanna Kumar, zilla panchayat CEO Rakesh Kumar K., ZP president Jyothi Kumar, and Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare were among those present at the meeting.