Karnataka: Soon, the sand you use could be from Malaysia

Bengaluru: Law and parliamentary affairs minister, T. B. Jayachandra on Tuesday asserted that the state government was mulling importing sand from other states and countries like Indonesia or Malaysia to bridge the growing demand-supply gap in the state.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the cabinet sub-committee meeting on sand mining policy here, Mr Jayachandra said the state cabinet will discuss issues including sand import and checking the sand mafia in the state in its next meeting.

"We are closely studying the Maharashtra model on sand import as it is probably the first state to start importing sand from other states. We are also discussing whether the
state can incorporate this into our new sand mining policy."

According to him, although the state had also made a beginning by allowing  manufacture of M-Sand, but, this  has not yielded the desired result in meeting the state's growing demand. "As a result, the cabinet-sub-committee is seriously considering importing sand from other states," he said.

In response to a question, Mr Jayachandra asserted that the sub-committee also plans to come out with an exclusive sand mining policy for the coastal districts. "Coastal districts have different problems compared to other state. There are issues like Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and Non-Coastal regulation zone which are not only unique but also applicable only to these districts, hence, it has become all the more pertinent to come out with an exclusive policy for this region alone," he explained.

The minister added that the state government was neither protecting nor shielding anyone allegedly involved in intimidating officers like the Udupi DC.   "We will not spare anyone," he added.

Dakshina Kannada DC faces heat for ‘violating’ sand mining ban  
National Environment Care Federation secretary H. Shashidhar Shetty has filed a complaint with the Lokayukta against Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Jagadisha for 'violation of the law and court order' on sand mining. He has also decided to bring this to the notice of the Prime Minister's office. Shetty has been fighting illegal sand mining and the sand mafia in Udupi and DK districts since several years and has also received a life threat. "While we congratulate Udupi DC Priyanka Mary Francis for her daring step to stop illegal sand mining, we are sad to say that Dakshina Kannada DC Jagadisha has failed to take any action to stop illegal sand mining and has violated the National Green Tribunal  order on sand mining," Shetty told reporters in Mangaluru. "Based on the case on illegal sand mining in Udupi, the Chennai bench of Green Tribunal has banned illegal sand mining in the CRZ area there. The same yardstick should be followed for sand excavation in Udupi and DK districts, I brought this  to the notice of Mr Jagadisha but he has failed to take any action," Shetty said in the complaint filed with the Lokayukta.