‘GPS will be installed in 550 sand trucks by Sept 20’
The installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) to 550 trucks transporting sand in the district will be completed by September 20. The GPS will be activated and start functioning from September 20 onwards, said Sand Contractors, Sand Boat Owner-Workers and Building Materials Transportors Joint Action Committee President Mayur Ullal.
Speaking to presspersons here on Friday, he said the GPS has already been installed to 200 trucks along with the sticker of the Action Committee. The process of installing GPS on the remaining trucks is under progress. He urged the district administration to issue a notification on GPS installation after convening a meeting of the Task Force in the district.
Stating that percentage of illegal transportation of sand has come down drastically, he said with the GPS installation, the illegal transportation of sand can be checked.
Opposition
He said that the Action Committee will oppose the move of the government to introduce uniform law on the transportation of sand in the State. Uniform law on sand mining is in force in Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, it was PWD which calls tender for sand mining and the contract will be given to one person who in turn distributes among others. However, the method of sand mining which is followed in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are totally different from the rest of Karnataka. Moreover, the process followed in sand mining and sand transportation in undivided DK is totally different from the rest of Karnataka.
To a query, he said the Action Committee will not support the bundh call given by some organisations demanding uniform law for sand mining.
Demands
Ullal said that the permit for sand mining and transportation should be given by the department of Mines and Geology. The problems faced by the transporters from Commercial Tax division should be set right. The issue of paying Rs 5,000 royalty per month to the government and decisions taken by the Task Force on the transportation of sand should be announced legally through a notification by the district administration.
He said the District-in-Charge Minister and elected representatives should convene a meeting to discuss on the transportation of sand legally. The sand mining using pump in some of the rivers in the district should be stopped immediately. The district
administration should allow transportation of sand legally to 750 trucks with GPS in the district and action should be initiated against those who do not install GPS.
