‘Sand mining in CRZ areas within a week’

District In-charge Minister U T Khader said the deputy commissioner has promised to issue permits to help contractors mine sand in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas within a week.

He told media persons at Circuit house that he had suggested to the deputy commissioner on forming taluk-level committees, headed by an official of the rank of assistant commissioner, to dredge sand at check dams.

He claimed that the deputy commissioner had agreed to his two suggestions on the district-level sand monitoring committee fixing the price of sand and to set up a control room to receive complaints from public and initiate action against contractors selling sand at a higher price.

Lashing out at the Centre, he said the order to send CBI director on an indefinite leave is a blot on the CBI’s blemishless record.

He accused the Centre of sending the CBI director as it fears that the details into Rafale deal will be made
public.

He also demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal as BJP government had turned down the Supreme Court’s request seeking details into the expenditure involved in Rafale agreement.