CHITRADURGA: Public Works, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department is all set to take control of sand mining in the state from September 15. As per the new government directions, extraction and sale of sand belongs to the department. The department of mines and geology, which looked after sand matters till now, will continue to take care of the affairs regarding sand mining till September 15, according to Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules 2011, after which the affairs will completely get transferred to Public Works Department (PWD). Speaking to Express, Executive Engineer of Chitradurga division Govindappa said, “Sand extraction is done in 689 acres in Chitradurga; this has been divided into 69 blocks in two major rivers of the district-Vedavathi and Suvarna Mukhi.”Giving the breakup of the blocks he said, “Hosadurga (15), Challakere (31), Hiriyur (20) and Molakalmuru (3) have been identified during a joint survey of PWD and revenue department.”“Apart from this, four stock yards have been identified near blocks and check posts they are established to curb the illegal extraction of sand,” he elaborated.Sources at the department of mines and geology said, this policy has been implemented in the state based on the policy followed in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.Sand monitoring committeeThere is a district sand monitoring committee to regulate extraction and movement of sand from the district. Deputy Commissioner of the district will be the chairman of the committee, chief executive officer of ZP, Superintendent of Police, executive engineer of PWD, deputy conservator of forests, officer of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Road Transport Officer, thasildar of respective taluks and deputy director of mines and geology will be the member secretary of the committee.According to the new guidelines, all sand transporting vehicles should install GPS/RFID device and move in the approved routes as indicated in the mineral despatch permit.
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