Deputy Commissioner N Prabhakar on Thursday said that prior permission from the district administration is mandatory to carry out sand mining in private patta land. The sanction is compulsory even for sand mining in the land unfit for agriculture. The permission should be obtained from competent authorities on payment of Rs 250 to take up mining on tankbed.

District administration has called a meeting of officers and legislators to chalk out an action plan on redressing drinking water scarcity in the City, on Oct 27.

Following a marathon meeting for over three hours, the members of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme enforcement committee withdrew their dharna here on Thursday.

There is rampant corruption in the implementation of NREGs at Urigili Gram Panchayat. An inquiry must be conducted to ascertain the facts,' said members of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Enforcement Committee.

Urging fulfilment of various demands, the members started a indefinite strike in front of the Zilla Panchayat Office in Kolar on Wednesday.

As many as 124 tanks have been rejuvenated under Community-based Tank Management Scheme of Watershed Department, in a span of seven years.

The members of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Enforcement Committee will begin an indefinite dharna from Oct 21 in front of the Zilla Panchayat office in the city.

The Committee memebrs are demanding inquiry into irregularities in implementing the scheme in Urigili Gram Panchayat.

Amidst concerns over poor implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the district, Chikk ankandahalli Gram Panchayat in the taluk has become a model in utilisation of funds meant for this ambitious employment generation programme of the Central government.

Even as the need for protecting and rejuvenating the waterbodies is gaining momentum in recent days, Venugopalaswamy trust has decided to fill-up a pond located in the heart of the City and construct a community hall.

Three organisations working for welfare of those affected by the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy victims warned the Madhya Pradesh government today to fulfil its promise of providing clean water to the victims before the tragedy's 25th anniversary failing which they will be compelled to take ''direct action.'' Leaders of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Pur

A special meeting of the ground water experts will be held in 15 days to discuss the steps to be taken to conserve water table in Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts.

K H MuniyappaIt will be followed by a three-day workshop, announced Union Minister K H Muniyappa.