Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Sep 17: Members of Varamballi village panchayat staged a massive protest against the sand mafia at Uppinakote near Akshara Karavali building on Wednesday September 16.
Birthi Rajesh Shetty, former president, village panchayat, alleged that the district authority has been neglecting public interest completely. “The Coastal Regulatory Zone has framed 26 norms on sand mining but no one is following the restrictions. Moreover, politically and financially influential persons are involved in the sand mining business,” he said.
“In a democracy, the public seeks license before implementation of any work, but this is not following by the sand bar owners. Labourers are arriving from Assam, UP, and other states. The bosses provide them with steroid injections to bear weight,” added Shetty.
He alleged that they are wasting tax on construction of a sea wall. “Fish production is ruined. The district authority has banned mechanized sand mining till October 1, but the mafia is not heeding this. The DC behaves childishly before the engineers. So, he must break his silence and give first priority to local people rather than other districts. The sand owner s are threatening the local people,” added Shetty.
He alleged that the quality of sand is not good and they have not taken NOC from the panchayats.
Bhujanga Shetty, former president, ZP, said, “There is need to control illegal sand transportation. The main sand bars are Kukkude (Harady panchayat), Barkur (Handady), Mabukala. The value of transporting sand price Rs 4,000 but the price changes while reaching Shivamogga or Mysore and can be up to Rs 15, 000-20,000 per unit. Innumerable lorries carry heavy loads throughout the day and this damages the road.”
MLC Pratapchandra Shetty said, “It is good work being carried out by the panchayat members. Udupi is known for an efficient government but why has such illegal work happened here? The district authority has to speak out and answer them. First, the DC has to stop exporting sand to other districts.” He assured that he will always be with the public and farmers to fight obstacles.
Mallika Kukkude, resident of Kukkude, said, “We are facing severe problem due to sand mining. They dig more than 10 feet deep. Hence, fish production is declining due to deep sea mining. The sand miners have complained against the locals who came forward to stop their work.”
Prakash Bennekudru said, “The seashore was completely washed out due to mining. The water pipelines also get damaged.”
A copy of the memorandum has been submitted to DC R Vishal, district-in-charge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, and MLA Pramod Madhwaraj. Former MLA Raghupati Bhat and MLC Pratapchandra Shetty received a copy of the memorandum.
ZP president Mallika Balakrishna Poojary, Gopi Nayka, Vittal Poojary, engineer Sridhar Bhandary, Godwin Menejes Brahmavar, and Varamballi panchayat president Nithyananda Shetty were present.