Cumbersome Licensing Driving Illegal Quarrying, Say Laterite Stone Operators

Association says even landowners are required to obtain NoC from revenue and agri depts

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mangaluru

The Dakshina Kannada District Red Stone Owners' Association has called for a complete overhaul of the licensing process for laterite stone extraction, arguing that the current system—burdened by complex procedures, mandatory soil testing, and steep upfront taxes—is hampering legitimate operations and pushing many operators toward unlicensed and illegal quarrying.

Association President Satish Acharya said that under the existing framework, even landowners are required to obtain NoC from both the Revenue and Agriculture departments. He said licenses are being denied in the absence of ILMS (Integrated Lease Management System) soil testing reports, despite tests from multiple coastal locations showing less than 20% mineral content in the soil.