Karnataka to come out with Sand mining policy

Mysore, Nov 13 (UNI) The Karnataka government will soon come out with a comprehensive policy to regulate sand mining, Minister for Transport R Ashok said today.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for Rs 27 crore Truck Terminal on the outskirts of the city, he said the policy would be drafted on the lines of the one implemented in Tamil Nadu.

Due to lack of proper regulation, sand mining and transportation was going on a large scale causing huge loss to the State exchequer. ''In order to stop such practices and remove present mixup in issuing licences to the sand mining, the government would soon introduce the policy'' , he said.

Stating that the Truck Terminal, second in the State, would be built on 16.5 acres of land on the ring road, could accommodate more then 300 trucks and there would be facilities for rest room, canteen, weighing bridge, police station and fire station. The project was taken up on joint venture with public-private participation.

Mr Ashok further said it was proposed to build ruck terminals at all the district headquarters in the state.

He said the fares in the Volvo buses introduced in the city to various tourist spots would be reduced by 30 per cent with immediate effect following good demand.

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