Associations oppose new amendments in sand mining policy

Mangalore, July 23: Three associations of sand miners and transporters on Friday opposed the state government's new amended sand policy which vested rights of sand mining and transportation the Public Works Department.

Sand Mining and Transportation Joint Action Committee president Mayur Ulla told media persons her that the sand policy framed by the government will affect the traditional sand mining community in coastal districts. The sand mining and transportation under the supervision of the PWD will deprive people who are involved in traditional sand mining of their livelihood, he added.

Mayur pointed out that traditional sand mining existed only in coastal regions where people use boats to bring sand which they manually lift from the river.

Insisting on a policy exclusively for people involved in traditional sand mining, they refused to accept the present policy. "We were happy when the government announced a separate policy for the coastal districts", he said and pointed out that the government's recent notification on auctioning off sand blocks also covered coastal districts too.

Members of Sand Transporting Lorry Owners' Association and Dakshina Kannada Sand Boat Owners and Workers' Association declared that the associations will campaign for a separate sand mining policy for coastal regions.