Mangaluru, April 24: Deputy commissioner chaired a review meeting at his office here on Thursday April 23rd to discuss mainly on the social and educational census, sand mining and ground water.
DC Ibrahim speaking about the ongoing social and educational census said that in Dakshinna Kannada district, altogether 38 percent of the census has been completed so far and within a week the remaining 60 percent has to be completed.
A video conference was organized with the chief minister Siddaramaiah to discuss on the census. As per the review meeting held earlier, enumerators are supposed to visit houses and collect the details. General public should give the correct details. During the census; Aadhar card, EPIC and ration cards should be kept along with them. To download the forms citizens can visit the websites of the Mangaluru City Corporation, the DC’s office and the zilla panchayat at the links www.mangalorecity.gov.in,www.dk.nic.in
and http://zpdk.kar.nic.in, he informed.
The DC said, chief minister is very strict regarding this matter and he has informed that the deputy commissioner will be held responsible if the caste census is not completed by April 30th. None should fill the form with pencil, it has to be done using ball pen.
On sand mining, DC Ibrahim said, four sandbars have been given the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority clearance letter under Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) at Netravati river upto 12 km. For 103 acres of land for sand mining, as many as 86 permits have been granted. Twelve sandbars have been granted the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority clearance letter under CRZ at Gurpur river upto 17 km, and 82 permits have been given for 92 acres of land for sand mining.
Sand mining is banned in non-CRZ areas. Strict actions will be taken on those who are found using the CRZ permit for mining in non-CRZ area, he said. Rs 175.20 lakhs as royalty, Rs 116.80 lakhs as administration fee and Rs 2.92 lakhs as SSP book are being collected, he added.
DC also laid down various rules and regulations to control illegal sand mining. Showcause notice will be given to vehicle owners who transport excess load of sand and they have to answer the notice within three days. The forest department will check the vehicles at forest check-posts. Ten-wheeler trucks have been banned from entering the district. Tahsildars have been instructed to inspect the sand carrying vehicles atleast for 30 minutes daily. Seized vehicles will be fined upto Rs 25,000 under the MMRDA Act. Each sand carrying vehicle has to present weigh slip whenever they are asked for it. As many as 500 officials have been authorized to check the sand trucks, he informed.
DC has given the following details regarding Illegal Sand Mining/Transportation caught from March 15 to April 15:
- Illegal sand transportation – 47 cases, fine collected Rs 5.83 lakhs
2. Excess weight in sand transportation – 35 cases, fine collected Rs 2.64 lakhs
3. Unauthorized sand mining area – 4 cases, fine collected Rs fine 2.78 lakhs
4. Inter-state sand transportation (Kerala) – 6 cases, fine collected Rs 1.45 lakhs
Vehicles seized during the operation held on April 20 and 21:
- Mangaluru taluk – 45
2. Beltangady taluk – 34
3. Puttur taluk – 36
4. Bantwal taluk – 46
5. Moodbidri – 15
6. Kadaba – 1
7. Sullia taluk – 28
Total number of vehicles seized – 205
Groundwater
Inspection conducted by the District Groundwater Authority has revealed that the presence of a total of 5,848 public borewells and open wells in the district.
DC speaking to the media said, those who want to dig a borewell or an open well within a radius of 500 meters from a public water source, initially should obtain the permission from the District Groundwater Authority. Every borewell driller has to be registered under the Authority. A total of 20 rigs have been registered in Dakshina Kannada district. Unregistered rigs can be seized by the sub-divisional officer, tahsildar, taluk panchayat officials and other authorized officials. To spread awareness among the general public, banners will be erected by the District Groundwater Authority in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts sooner.
To check the average static water level in Dakshina Kannada District, Groundwater Authority has 19 borewells and 35 open wells which are under observation.
The water levels are as follows:
- Mangaluru – 16.38 meter
- Bantwal – 11.54 meter
- Beltangady – 9.54 meter
- Puttur – 9.50 meter
- Sullia – 11.25 meter
The average static water level of Dakshina Kannada is 11.81 meter from ground level.
Zilla Panchayat CEO Srividya, Sadashiva Prabhu Addition deputy commissioner, and others were present on this occasion.
