No sand shortage in DK dist., it is created by sand mafia: SP

Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun on Sunday said the so called ‘sand shortage’ was created by sand mafia, and asserted there was no sand shortage in the district.

He was responding to a participant who raised the issue of shortage of sand and laterite stone for the construction industry during the SC/ST grievances redressal meeting convened by the Mangaluru City and Dakshina Kannada District Police.

He said the sand mafia wants sand from rivers and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) that was cheaper, since sand extraction from rivers in CRZ was not being allowed at present.

Dr. Arun said, “There is no shortage of sand in the district. Sand blocks have already been identified, and people can book sand through the Sand Bazaar App. It’s the mafia that is halting construction activities, not the police.”

He said the police have not taken any action against lawful transportation of sand and laterite stone. However, it would not allow illegal excavation and transportation, he clarified.

Enough sand available

The Mines and Geology Department on Friday said that 15,424 tonnes of sand of non-CRZ areas is available for purchase at yards for the residents of Dakshina Kannada district through www.dksandbazaar.com website or DK Sand Bazaar App. Sand extraction from 15 identified sand blocks in non-CRZ area would commence from October 16, even as 3.3 lakh tonnes sand was available for excavation from these blocks, the department noted.