Udupi: Addressing a press meet here on Friday October 12, deputy commissioner of the district, Priyanka Mary Francis, stated that sand extraction in non-coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) areas in the district is expected to begin in a week.

At the same time, she said it might take some time for sand mining to begin in areas falling within CRZ as it can begin a week after the meeting of the state forest, environment and ecology department approves it and its minutes are received.

“Two sand blocks in Karkala and two more in Byndoor assembly constituency in Kundapur taluk have been identified under non-CRZ category. Because of the upcoming Lok Sabha bypoll in Byndoor constituency, code of conduct is in force in the entire district. Still, at our request, we have been permitted to apply restriction against sand mining only to Byndoor assembly constituency. Therefore, sand extraction will begin in Karkala in a week and at Byndoor after the election,” she clarified.

The deputy commissioner stated that the map of CRZ has been revised by the union department of environment and forests as per which CRZ has been expanded. Therefore, sand blocks under non-CRZ category have come down from 28 in the previous year to nine now.

Sand cannot be extracted in places where the surface is covered in water. She said that because of deemed forest rules, quarry licences and title deeds cannot be issued.

The officer said that in some social media, vested interests have been projecting as if she is entirely responsible for the sand shortage. She said she is happy with the people’s support, adding that the people of Udupi are neither innocents nor idiots to get misled by this campaign. She said she would be happy if the people know the reality.