Govt to scrap sand policy curbs: Khader

Urban Development & Housing Minister U T Khader, ordered the Dakshina Kannada (DK) administration, to present a proposal to shelve the conditions in the separate sand mining policy for coastal districts.

This was being done to improve sand availability for constructions across the state, Khader said. He spoke after inspecting the new market complex construction at Urwa junction, in Mangaluru on Monday.

The minister observed that scrapping coastal sand policy restrictions, would alleviate the scarcity of sand, and bring down the price of sand from the current Rs 15000 per load to nearly Rs 4000 per load.

"I have told the DK administration to ensure that sand is available on priority, at cheaper prices," Khader said.

The sand policy conditions for coastal districts, prevents people from mining sand for constructions, Khader added.

Market complex soon

Minister Khader said that the work on the new market complex at Urwa junction, was likely to end next month. The new market complex work covering 84,000 square feet, commenced in April 2017.

Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), was asked to open the market by October, though the date of completion as per the plan, is April 2019.

Meanwhile, vendors demanded cloak rooms in the new market complex. The minister has assured them the facility.

Mayor Bhaskar K, Deputy Mayor Muhammad K, MCC council whip Shashidhar Hegde, corporator Pravinchandra Alva, MUDA commissioner Srikanth Rao and MCC commissioner B A Mohammed Nazir were present.