Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, said on Saturday that the government would decide on the issue of a separate sand policy for the three coastal districts only after April 15. Speaking to presspersons here, Mr. Madhwaraj said that a Cabinet sub-committee was looking into the issue of sand extraction in non-Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas and a separate sand policy for the coastal districts. The sub-committee had held about five meetings. A draft policy would be drawn up and sent to the Cabinet for its approval, he said. He said that he prasied the dedication and sincerity of the Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Fancis and Assistant Commissioner Shilpa Nag on tackling illegal sand extraction in the district. Though he was campaigning for the Congress in the bypoll for the Gundlupet Assembly constituency, he had kept himself abreast with the developments in Udupi district. He said officers were free to deal with the illegal sand extraction issue. I do not support the sand mafia. I have told the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to take action on complaints of illegal sand extraction, he said. The Chennai bench of National Green Tribunal had cancelled permits for sand extraction in CRZ areas in the district as they were given in violation of guidelines of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The process of issuing permits following all the guidelines would have to be started afresh. Though he had told the district administration last year not to issue of permits for sand extraction in the rivers in Harady and Baikady, it was done leading to the present impasse, he said. To a query, Mr. Madhwaraj said that those who had attacked Ms. Francis and Ms. Nag at Kandlur on April 3 should be arrested and punished. I have told the DC and SP to take action on complaints of illegal sand extraction. Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports