MANGALORE: In a very significant decision, the district administration has made it
mandatory for private buses and sand transportation lorries in the district to install Global
Positioning System (GPS).
Giving information in this regard, Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj said such a decision
has been necessitated in view of the unabated sand smuggling activities and the violation
of traffic rules by private buses.
The DC said the matter has been intimated to the bus operators’ association and sand
transporters’ association and they have been apprised of the benefits of this system.
A six month training would also be provided to bus operators, he said adding they will
have to incorporate the system by then failing which legal action would follow.
Referring to the blatant smuggling of sand from the Netravati and Gurupur rivers in the
district towards Kerala owing to the high price available for sand there, the DC
pointed out that presently only 40 persons have been permitted to mine sand in the
district. The installation of GPS would even put a check on the sand transportation
lorries, he said.
The DC also informed that the authorized sand transportation lorries will have to be
painted with a particular colour and the colour would be decided later on. Stating
that the lorry owners were however unwilling to install GPS, the DC said they
will have to face action if the system was not incorporated by July end.
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