Port Blair, Nov 29: The sand allotment committee has given its go ahead to allotment of sand. In the first phase, a total of 8002 cu.m of sand will be allotted and the pending after receipt of notification allowing sand mining from non-eco sensitive areas from the Ministry. 6811 cu.m will be allotted to new applicants and 1191 cu.m for which royalty had been already paid by the individual. Allotment will be done through the Divisional Forest Officers of the respective area with immediate effect.
Considering the problems and difficulties faced by the people and the construction industries as well due to non-permission of sea sand extraction in the islands and high cost of sand brought from mainland, the Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) Bhopinder Singh, PVSM, AVSM had taken up the matter with the Environment & Forest Ministry for allowing sea sand extraction in the Islands resulting in early approval of sea sand extraction by the Ministry. The Ministry has now approved the sand mining from non-eco sensitive areas but formal notification is awaited.
