Mangaluru: In a strong appeal to the state government, BJP MP and legislators from Dakshina Kannada on Wednesday submitted a petition to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding urgent action to resolve the ongoing licensing and supply issues surrounding laterite stones and sand in the coastal belt.
The leaders claimed that the construction and agriculture sectors have been badly affected by what they described as “unscientific and restrictive policies” adopted by the government. Once a manually driven trade, laterite stone extraction in the coastal and Malnad regions has shifted toward mechanisation due to labour shortages. However, the state’s decision to bring laterite quarrying under the Department of Mines and Geology has allegedly created unnecessary regulatory hurdles, burdening landowners, labourers, and opening the door to corruption.
The delegation has urged the government to remove laterite stone quarrying from the mines department’s jurisdiction and implement a simplified, transparent licensing framework.
One of the key concerns raised was the steep royalty rate—Rs 290 per tonne in Karnataka, compared to just Rs 32 in Kerala. The BJP leaders demanded a sharp cut in royalty, from 96% to 10%, calling current rates economically unsustainable.
The regional sand shortage was also highlighted. The petition recommended a dedicated sand policy for coastal Karnataka, proposing that local bodies be empowered to issue permits for riverbed sand collection. It also called for the formation of taluk-level sand management committees to regulate legal extraction zones and ensure sustainable supply.