Mangaluru : Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe should be given preference and be allowed to extract sand in Dakshina Kannada, said Dalit activist during a meeting of Dalits at the office of Deputy Commissioner in Mangaluru on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting of Dalit leaders here on Wednesday, activist Narayan accused the district administration of not considering applications by SCs and STs for grant of permits to extract sand. If permits are issued for SCs and STs it will provide the much-needed economic stability for the members of the community.

“These permits should not be given to those close to councillors and legislators,” he said. Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, who heads the District Task Force to regulate sand extraction in coastal regulatory zone, said permits were issued to all those who had submitted their applications between January and April 2015. “Whoever has filed application has been given,” Mr. Ibrahim said and added that nearly 200 permits were issued.

Of the 500 applications filed since May 2015, the task force has granted permits to 75 persons. “Give me details of persons (belonging to SC and ST) who have submitted their applications. We will consider it,” Mr. Ibrahim said.

On the question of construction of Ambedkar Bhavan in Urwa, District Social Welfare Officer Santosh Kumar said the process will start only after the State Cabinet approves the proposed sanction of Rs. 5.2 crore towards the construction cost.

Mr. Kumar said it was proposed to construct the Bhavan at a cost of Rs. 12 crore. The government has already released Rs. 2.4 crore, while the Mangaluru City Corporation will give a grant of Rs. 1 crore. The Commissioner for Social Welfare has agreed to sanction Rs. 3.5 crore. A proposal has been placed before the State Cabinet for sanction of Rs. 5.2 crore, he said.

Mr. Ibrahim said he will discuss with Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) regarding repair of narrow 3.5 km-long mud road connecting Alamba hamlet and Naravi that passing through Kudremukh National Park.