MSME contractors seek permits to extract sand in CRZ

Sand contractors, registered under the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), have urged the district administration to issue permits and facilitate mining of sand in Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) areas in Nandini and Shambhavi rivers.

MSME Registered Contractors’ Association member Sunil Alva told the media at Patrika Bhavan on Thursday that as per the revised CRZ map; the regulatory zone was marked till Karnire in Shambhavi river and till Chelairu in Nandini river.

“There is provision to extract sand from sand blocks identified in these locations. The sand accumulated in huge quantities in the non-CRZ areas of these two rivers needs to be extracted,” he added.

“The district administration should allow registered sand extractors to mine the sand. For many registered contractors, sand mining is the only livelihood. Constructions could get hit due to paucity of sand. The government should respond to the woes of sand contractors and construction workers,” Alva stressed.

Association president Jeevan Poojary, treasurer Shailesh Kumar, organising secretary Vitthal N M and honorary advisor B S Chandru were present in the press meet.