Sand contractors urge prevention of illegal mining

District Sand Contractors’ Association, on Thursday, urged the district administration to prevent illegal mining of sand in the district and allow contractors who have successfully bid for sand extraction through proper channels.

Rafique Darbar of the association told mediapersons that the contractors’ association members had bagged the tenders for mining sand through e-procurement portal of Mines and Geology department. But miners bypassing legal channels were extracting and transporting sand illegally.

“So far, eight sand blocks were identified in Madikeri. But those who won bids are not able to mine and transport even a single container of sand, due to threats by illegal sand transporters. The labourers working for the contractors were assaulted. Despite complaining to the police, no action was taken against the illegal sand miners,” he charged.

Contractor Manjappa Hulugabhovi said that as mandatory per guidelines laid down by the Mines and Geology department, vehicles transporting sand should be equipped with GPS.

But trucks without GPS were transporting sand and flouting rules. Despite the district administration’s ban on sand mining and transportation, illegal sand miners had extracted the sand between June and December.

He warned that the association would hold a statewide protest if the district administration failed to check illegal mining and transportation of sand.

Contractors P T Ramesh, Parvatamma, Ramappa and Y Nagaraj were also present in the press meet.