Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Sep 10: BJP district president Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde said that the sand crisis in the district has been solved upto 90% due to the protest and ‘Kalnadige Jata’ held by BJP party.
He was speaking to reporters on Saturday September 9 at district BJP office Kadiayali here.
Speaking further on sand crisis, he said, “Now rate of sand in the district has decreased to Rs 6000 from Rs 16000. The district authority promised to give permission to 164 sand extraction units but they have given license to 134 units so far and delaying permits to 30 sand bar owners.”
“On Monday September 11, we will hold ‘Kalnadige Jata’ which will commence at Hemmady and culminate at Kaup against state government’s anti development policies. The jata will be led by backward class morcha. It will be followed by a meeting at Kaup on the same day.”
Speaking about the killing of journalist Gouri Lankesh, he said, “She was murdered because she was not provided adequate security by the state government. The government has completely failed to maintain law and order in the state. It is unfair to connect the name of PM Modi in this issue. Former home minister K J George should resign for his present post in connection with DySP Ganapati’s suspicious suicide case. CBI will investigate the case without any bias.”
“There is a committee for selecting beneficiaries under Akrama-sakrama of government scheme. There is no connection between government and the party. But the Congress party leaders are portraying as if it were their initiatives,” he alleged.
Former MP Jayaprakash Hegde said, “I strongly condemned the killing of well known journalist Gouri Lankesh. I condemn not only the incident but also people who are giving annoying statements in social media on the case.”
District mining department officer said, “A seven-member committee has been formed to monitor sand issue in the district. The DSMC has identified 170 such coastal extractors and have issued them temporary permits to extract the sand from CRZ rivers.”
It is learnt that the mining and geology department has received 876 new applications from the public out of which 544 applicants have been finalized for opening new sand bars.
The ban on sand mining under CRZ has been revoked. This move is believed to tackle the sand crisis of the district effectively.
“If NGT grants permission to extract sand under non CRZ, the sand problem will be dealt with permanently,” said Jayaprakash Hegde.
Former Udupi MLA, Raghupati Bhat said, “The district administration has no interest to give permission. So they are delaying the permission for 30 sand bar owners under CRZ.”
Kuylady Suresh Nayak, Shreesha Naik, Yashpal Suvarna and Katpady Shankar Poojary were present.