Mangaluru : Despite the reservations expressed by Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai, on Monday directed the official to find a temporary solution to the sand crisis in the district.

The permanent arrangements include clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to extract sand from rivers in the Coastal Regulatory Zone and auctioning of sand blocks by the Public Works Department in non-CRZ areas.

Raising the issue at the tri-monthly Karnataka Development Programme review meeting here, Mangaluru South MLA J.R. Lobo and Ivan D’Souza, MLC, both from the ruling Congress, said that MoEF clearance for sand extraction in CRZ areas lapsed on January 16. They said there was enormous delay in applying for clearance from MoEF by the district authorities. However, this has not deterred illegal sand transportation to Bengaluru and Kerala, they alleged.

The legislators said that construction in Dakshina Kannada could go on only for six months because of the monsoon but they have come to a standstill since February. Development works had been affected too, they said and threatened to boycott the meeting if the issue was not adddressed. Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader said that the KDP meeting had the authority to offer a temporary solution.

However Mr. Rai was unrelenting, and said his image would get tarnished if he bypassed rules. . After exchange of heated words between the legislators and the Minister, Mr. Rai directed Mr. Ibrahim to find out a temporary solution till MoEF gives the clearance or the Public Works Department commences sand distribution from non-CRZ area. A grumbling Mr. Ibrahim nodded his head in the affirmative.

While the tri-monthly Karnataka Development Programme review meeting is expected to discuss development issues of the district, MLAs from Belthangady, Puttur and Sullia remained absent in the meeting held on Monday.

Vasantha Bangera, Sahkuntala Shetty and S. Angara were not present in the meeting. Ganesh Karnik, K. Prathapchandra Shetty and Kota Srinivasa Poojary, MLCs, were not present either. Mangaluru South MLA J.R. Lobo, North MLA Mohiuddin Bawa, Mangaluru MLA and Minister for Health and Family welfare U.T. Khader, Moodbidri MLA and Minister of State for Fisheries K. Abhayachandra Jain, Ivan D’Souza, MLC, and Mangaluru Mayor Harinath were present.

Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim on Monday told a Karnataka Development Programme review meeting that work order to extract sand from five blocks in non-CRZ areas of the district would be issued by Tuesday.

Of the 38 sand blocks identified in non-CRZ area, 37 were put for auction for which only 22 bidders had made the bid. Only five bidders were qualified and five blocks were allotted. Of the remaining 32 blocks, one block each has been allotted exclusively for the use of Mangaluru City Corporation, Dakshina Kannada Zilla panchayat and the Public Works Department. Short-term tenders are invited for the remaining 29 blocks. Minister B. Ramanath Rai asked the PWD and Mr. Ibrahim not to impose stringent conditions that deter participation from small time contractors.