JOIN USThe State government will formulate the new sand mining policy based on a model guideline issued by the Centre recently.
Law Minister T B Jayachandra, who is also a member of a Cabinet sub-committee set up to prepare a draft mining policy, said the green bench of the Supreme Court has recently ruled that mining of sand and other minor minerals should require clearance from the Centre's Ministry of Environment and Forest on the lines of iron ore mining. The Centre has prepared a detailed guideline based on the court ruling and circulated it to all the States, he added.
Currently, the State government has powers to issue permission for sand mining. Illegal sand mining has become rampant in the State in the absence of a proper policy.
The sub-committee headed by PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa had held several meetings in the last few weeks. The Centre's guideline has come at a time when the sub-committee had almost completed its task of preparing the draft policy.
As a result, the sub-committee, which held its meeting on Friday, gave directions to the officials concerned to re-work on the draft based on the guidelines.