Mangalore, Aug 24: The Sand Contractors, Sand Boat Owners – Workers and Building Materials Transporters Joint Action Committee inaugurated its Joint Action Committee, flaging off the GPS-fitted lorries and workshop on Sand Transporataion at Town Hall on August 24, Tuesday.

Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh issued the identification cards to the members of the joint action committee. MLA UT Khader released the stickers. DC V. Ponnuraj will flag off the GPS-fitted lorries and released the GPS logo.

Speaking after inaugurating the event, MLA B Ramanath Rai, Bantwal said that the sand transportation business must taken place sincerely. Today sand transportation is taking place with different meaning.

The business of sand transportation must take place but must not become as illegal sand mining or sand mafia. There are many people who earn their livelihood through this business, but rich businessman who transport illegal sand escape through any legal hurdle but the poor people cannot find any option o escape, he said.

At present the sand business has reached the position of damaging ones reputation. The DC V Ponnuraj has made an effort to provide solution by implementing GPS.

Presiding over the occasion, District in charge minister Krishna J Palemar, said that the GPS has been implemented not to fight with the government, but to earn money with sincerity.

The people of Kerala has come to know the value of sand and other natural resources, but the people of Karnataka are still unaware of it. Hence GPS must be compulsorily implemented in all the sand transporting vehicles.

DC V Ponnuraj, said that Sand lorry owners have taken steps to regulate illegal transportation of sand by accepting common color codes of blue bumpers, white bonnets, and the letters “Maralu Sagata Vahana” on the bonnet. These lorries have also been fitted with GPS and have identification stickers on their left hand side of their windshields.

There are 35 to 40 exit points to Kerala from Dakshina Kannada and we need 6 people in one check post to control the vehicles, hence to reduce the manual system the GPS will be adopted, he said.

GPS cannot be switched off or tampered and when they are tampered, it the authorities get the information and the permit of the vehicle will be cancelled, he added.

Mayur Ullal, the president of Sand Contractors, Sand Boat Owners – Workers and Building Materials Transporters Joint Action Committee welcomed the guests and gathering.
MLA Abhaychandra Jain, Mayor Rajani Dugganna, Haji A K Shekhabba Addoor, honourary president, Rajaratna Sanil, general secretary and B S Chandru, advisor of the committee was present on the dais.
B. S. Ravindra, the deputy director of the department of mines and geology, conducted a workshop on the legal aspects of mineral trade.