Mangaluru: Minister for mines and geology, Murugesh Nirani, said that the state government is planning to introduce a new mining policy in Karnataka to stop illegal mining and increase revenue.
Addressing a press meet at the circuit house on Wednesday, he said, “The new mining policy will be helpful to access sand and other materials easily at affordable price. A committee will submit a draft to the government in this regard.”
On the Chikkaballapur blast, he said ” After blast meetings have been held with officials of mines and geology, police, revenue, and forest departments to prevent such incidents in the future.”
“The chief minister has provided compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the family members of the victims. Further, the owner of the quarry has also been asked to provide additional compensation to the victim’s families,” he added.
He also said that in the district the administration has issued a work order for sand mining in the Adyapady dam. This would help to meet the demand for sand and help for the storage of water. Software that will be installed at the checkpoints to avoid the illegal transport of sand to Kerala the district administration is working on it.
“The department is also planning for a separate mining policy to Dakshina Kannada district,” Minister said.
“The department is planning to establish a separate school of mining along with a university to provide necessary training to the unskilled mining workers and educate them on explosives, the department is planning for the Mining court to hear the grievances of the people and find solutions to their problems on the spot, every last Saturday of the month”. he said.
DC Dr Rajendra KV, Diwakar Samani and others were present.