JOIN USA ten-member committee, constituted by Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim under the leadership of Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar, has finalised guidelines for sand mining in the Costal Regulation Zone (CRZ) area in the district.
All the permit holders who extract and transport sand should strictly adhere to the guidelines.
In a press release, the DC said the use of machines to lift sand is banned.
The guidelines have been framed according to State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and Ministry of Forest and Environment rules. Sand should be lifted by labourers. Use of bulldozers, Hitachi, crane, earth movers and dredging machines are banned. If machines are used, they will be seized and the permits will be suspended along with blacklisting the permit holders. The use of machineries while loading sand to truck, lorry and tippers is also banned, he added.
According to CRZ regulations, only traditional boats can be used for sand mining. Accordingly, a permit holder can use 12 metre-long two boats for sand extraction. The boats used for sand extraction should be registered with the deputy director of Mines and Geology Department. All the registered boats will be given registration numbers.
The boats used for sand mining should be painted red and yellow, the DC said in the press release.
Permit holders should construct a temporary shed to store the sand after seeking permission from the local authorities. After the sand mining period ends, the sheds should be cleared. The permit holder’s name should be displayed on a nameplate in the mining area.
The committee also said sand mining will be allowed only between 6 am to 6 pm. It is completely banned during night.
The DC also mentioned that sand can be transported in a six-wheel vehicle only. Sand transportation using a 10- or 12-wheelers is banned in the district.
To check the illegal transportation of sand, CCTV cameras should be installed at check posts linked to city police commissioner’s and the SP’s offices.
He said the permits will be issued to permit holders only through ILMS software.
Legal action
If the permits are misused, cases will be filed against permit holders under IPC Sections 464 (making a false document), 465 (punishment for forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 470 (forged document or electronic record), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 379 (punishment for theft) and Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules 1994 and M M (R and D) Act 1957.
The DC said, “There are 19 sand bars in the CRZ area and nodal officers have been appointed for each sand bars. All the trucks transporting sand should be fitted with GPS facility and the inscription ‘sand transporting vehicle’ should be painted in front and rear top of the vehicle in clear and visible letters.”