Karwar
It has been two years since sand mining was stopped in the Coastal Regulation Zone of Uttara Kannada. Sand mining has been stopped in the CRZ zone with an adverse impact on the environment. However, despite the official sand mining being stopped, illegal sand mining is rampant and the authorities are sitting with their eyes closed.
It has been two years since the ban on sand mining was imposed in the district. However, no official sand mining has been permitted so far. Despite the ban on sand mining, there have been complaints that illegal sand mining is rampant in the district. There is a lot of demand for sand as official sand mining is closed. This has benefited those engaged in illegal sand mining.
Despite several complaints against illegal sand mining, the authorities are not taking any action against the illegal sand smugglers. The sand contractors have appealed to the authorities to control illegal sand mining as it has caused a lot of loss to the authorised sand miners.
Earlier, the National Green Tribunal had banned sand mining as the Kali river is an eco-sensitive zone. Accordingly, the District Mines and Geology Department has stopped official sand mining and not only unauthorized sand mining, the sand licensees alleged.In the last one year, around 87 vehicles carrying sand illegally have been seized and 568.3 metric tonnes of sand has been seized. A fine of Rs 36.10 lakh was collected. Apart from this, raids were conducted at eight places where sand was illegally collected. In the coming days, a staff will be deployed at all check posts and CCTV cameras will be installed to monitor illegal sand transportation, said Deputy Commissioner Gangubai Mankar.
