MANGALORE: Krishna Palemar, Surathkal MLA, has urged the State Government to permit sand extraction from riverbeds during summer as sand was one of the major raw materials used by the construction industry.

In an appeal to the Chief Minister here on Thursday, Mr. Palemar said that sand extraction from riverbeds during summer was a traditional industry that contributed to the livelihood of a large number of people from the villages. But due to the recent Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification, which prohibited sand extraction from 500 metres below the High Tide Limit (HTL), those involved in the industry were facing a threat to their livelihood, he said.

According to sources from the Sand Miner's Union at Kunjathbail, every day 2,000 truckloads of sand of two different grades were being extracted from the riverbeds during summer. Builders usually preferred this sand as it had minimum saline content, therefore reducing the possibility of cracks being developed in walls built with it.

Sand mining also provided indirect employment to four times this number of people, including employees of truck companies, construction workers and loaders, they added.

The sources said the mining of sand from the riverbeds also helped reduce the threat of floods in areas near river mouths .

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