Deadline nears: No sign of sand mining yet

Even after Tuesday’s meeting, the operators who bagged licences to mine sand showed no inclination to extract and distribute sand in the district.

District Additional Deputy Commissioner Vidyakumari told media persons that the sand removal work had not begun. “The licences were issued a fortnight ago and yet the operators have not come forward to take up the work,” she added.

Speaking further, the officer said, “We have received a complaint that one of the licence holders was about the mine sand at Uppur in Brahmavar from Thursday. But he stopped work after receiving threats. He complained to the district administration, and we have directed the police to offer security.”

Each licence holder is allotted sand bars with more than 10,000 metric tonnes of sand.

“If the licence holders failed to mine the sand by December 17, their licences will be cancelled,” she reminded.

Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis had warned met 45 licence holders at her office on Tuesday and said that distribution of sand too should begin immediately. “Sand crisis is on the increase in the district and the public are suffering,” she had reminded.

She had also assured that the administration will provide police security during the extraction.