Silvester Dsouza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (RJP)
Kundapur, Oct 20: Hattikudru residents have urged the authorities to cancel the permission granted for the sand mining in the area.
The meeting of the residents was held at the Sri Vinayaka temple at Hattikudru on Sunday. Basrur Mahalingeshwara temple administrator Appana Hegde who chaired the meeting said “This is the struggle for survival. Sand mining affects the underground water source. Hattikudru does not have water distribution system through pipes. The whole village is dependent on well water. The sand mining is done up to 20 to 30 feet from ground level which has affected water level in the area. This has adversely affected agriculture too. Hence sand mining should be stopped.”
“5 to 6 people have been granted permission for sand mining at survey no. 239. 50 to 60 boats are used for sand mining in this area. It looks like the government authorities are co operating on the illegal trade. Government is losing income here. Roads have been already damaged due to the sand mining. The 2500 people residing in 260 houses of the village are suffering because of the sand mining.” Hegde added during the discussion.
In the same meeting a proposal to connect Udupi to Kollur two important places of worship was also discussed. The dream road conceived in the meeting starts from Udupi D C office and passes through Havanje, Aroor, Neelavara, Brahmavar, Barkur, Basrur, and Karkunje to reach Kollur.
“The road will connect all the temple towns and can become a substitute road for the highway. There is no need to construct a complete new road. Only widening the existing roads will help. The road can improve tourism in the region and help the devotees to visit all temple towns easily” Hegde said talking about the road.
The residents decided to handover the road proposal request to B S Yeddyurappa, the former chief minister and BJP vice president.