'If you stick to laws and rules, work will not progress'

Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga (SP)

Shivamogga, Jul 9: Leader of the opposition in legislative council, K S Eshwarappa, took officials to task for their action in closing down stone quarries and crushers. His instructions came during a meeting of officials of mines and geology, forest and revenue departments he had convened at the office of the subdivisional officer here on Friday July 8.

He not only took the officials to task in the presence of owners of quarries and crushers, but also ordered them to take steps to see that crushers begin operations immediately. "If you close crushers because people face problems, how can one get M-sand and crushed stone for construction of houses, buildings, roads, and other works? How can development works take place in the district? If you stick to laws and rules for everything, work will not progress. You have to see that crushed stone is easily available for the people," he told the officials.

Normal life had been disturbed on account of detonation of boulders at night in the stone quarries operating in the outskirts of the city, and manufacture of crushed stone and M-sand in the crushers. After receiving complaint from the general pubic about these problems, revenue department had ordered closure of some crushers and stone quarries.

Owners of some of these crushers and quarries were trying to make their units operational again, and Eshwarappa came in support of their efforts by issuing directions to officials. Noting that 173 applications for crushers and stone quarries are pending in the district, he asked reasons for keeping them pending, and told the officials to dispose of applications which are in order immediately.