Legislators for simplification of sand mining policy

The elected representatives have urged the authorities concerned to write to the state government to simplify the sand mining policy, so that activity can be taken up without any hindrance in the district.

Speaking at the Karnataka Development Programmes (KDP) review meeting held on Monday under the chairmanship of District-in-Charge Minister Krishna Palemar, MLAs Abhayachandra Jain, U T Khader, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary said non availability of sand in the region is affecting development works.

Palemar said that the new sand mining policy will not be implemented in the coastal district.

The previous policy will be continued for 45 days in the coastal district. A delegation from the state has already met Union Minister for Law and Union Minister for Environment urging them to relax certain provisions under CRZ rules for sand mining in the coastal district.

Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav said “the district administration does not want to create problems to the people by implementing the rules. When the rules are violated with regard to sand mining, we can not keep quiet. The department of Mines and Geology has already started issuing permits for sand mining and the sand mining has already commenced in the district.”

Suvarna Bhoomi scheme

Agriculture department Joint Director Padmaiah Naik said that under Suvarna Bhoomi schemes, small and marginal farmers growing dicotyledon, oil seeds, mango, grapes, lemon, banana, pomegranate, pineapple, chikko, papaya, apiculture will get financial assistance of Rs 10,000. Paddy and arecanut are excluded from the scheme.

“The last date for submitting application under the scheme is April 25. We have already printed about 40,000 application forms and the forms are available in agriculture office, gram panchayats. As many as 5,608 people in each taluk will be benefited under the scheme.”

The meeting unanimously decided to write to the government to include paddy and arecanut under the scheme.

Permits

The DC said that KSRTC does not apply for permits in those rural villages where there is a need for bus facility. “If the KSRTC applies for permits to ply buses in those areas which are in need of buses, the RTA will issue temporary permits immediately.”

Door numbers

When the members raised the issue of issuing temporary door numbers to those houses which have been built illegally on the government land, the DC said “we are reserving land in villages and handing it to the Gram Panchayats to be distributed among the siteless.”

Additional Deputy Commissioner Prabhakar Sharma said “under Section 94 (C) of the Karnataka Land Reforms (KLR) Act, we have approved 6,000 applications received under the Section. However, about 6,500 applications which we received under section 94 (C) belong to those houses which were built on the private land. Issuing door numbers to houses constructed in government land will be a violation of rules. The officials will be held responsible if door numbers were given to houses in the encroached land under Section 192 (B) KLR Act.”

 ZP CEO P Shivashankar said that according to a survey, there are 49,000 siteless persons in the district. Of which, 26,000 have illegally constructed houses in the government land. The meeting unanimously decided to oppose Nethravathi river diversion project.