Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Apr 5: State law minister T B Jayachandra on Tuesday April 5, said that the state government will come out with a new sand policy which will incorporate the demands of the three coastal districts to allow locals to extract sand.

Speaking to reporters here, Jayachandra said that the people of three coastal districts namely Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada, have been demanding that they should get sand at cheaper rates. “They also demand that, only after meeting the local needs, sand should be transported to other districts,” he said.

“These demands and other aspects will be taken up at the next state Cabinet meeting before finalising the new policy,” he added.

T B Jayachandra

Sand from other states

Jayachandra said the government is also contemplating to buy sand from other states in the wake of its severe shortage in the state. “Maharashtra has been importing sand from other states,” he pointed out.

Attack on DC and AC

Jayachandra said, a Cabinet sub-committee on Tuesday discussed the attack on Udupi deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis and assistant commissioner Shilpa Nag by a gang which was involved in illegal sand mining.

Panel on tame media

Speaking on Speaker K B Koliwad constituting a Joint House Committee to rein in the media, Jayachandra said “It is a decision of the House. The government had no discussion with the Speaker in this regard and we, as government, do not have anything to do with that decision.”