The MLAs from the district who were staging dharna from past three days in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office demanding ban on sand transportation, withdrew the protest temporarily in Chikkaballapur on Friday.
The MLAs withdrew the protest to help flood victims of the North Karnataka and after assurances from the District In Charge Minister Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan.
The minister who arrived here on Friday morning, took MLAs to confidence and expressed his full support to their cause.
The minister has also assured to lead a delegation of MLAs to CM to sensitise him about the issue, in a week’s time.
Task force
Mumtaz Ali Khan said that in the meantime a Task Force would be constituted at district and taluk-level to curb illegal sand transportation in the region.
Explaining the measure that would be taken to stop the illegal sand mining, Khan said that the rules laid down by the Mining department would be enforced strictly. Sand transportation will be allowed only from 6 am to 6 pm. Mechanised sand mining and mining beyond 3 feet will be banned completely. Lorries loading sand beyond 10 tonnes will be fined and permits of those lorries will be cancelled which are once again held for over-loading.
A team comprising tahsildar, police officers headed by officials from Mine and Geology Department would be set up at every taluk to enforce the rules and regulations, the minister added.