Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Oct 28: “Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are facing severe sand scarcity. So we have decided to hold a day-long protest at all taluk centres led by BJP MLAs on November 3 to attarct the attention of the government. If we do not get the necessary response from the government, BJP will call on the public to extract sand from the river banks of Dakshina Kannada,” said MP Nalin Kumar Kateel.

He was speaking on the fourth day of Maralu Horata Samithi protest at Rajathadri Manipal here on Sunday, October 28.

Addressing media he said, “The rivers are ours, sand is our property and the land is ours. Who are they to question us over natural sources? Public do not need to beg for sand. The government and district authority are there to serve people. A new sand policy must be framed for the coastal districts. Most of the government housing schemes’ construction works are pending. Various projects and development works have been stopped completely in the both the districts.

“Not only are the poor, but also the rich not able to construct houses. There is no legal obstacle to procure sand under CRZ. The central government has already given clearance to CRZ. Hence, the district authority can issue permit to 171 license holders. Sand and fish are the life of fishermen. There is a need to simplify sand policy,” he said.

Answering mediapersons queries on the three-day tour of CM to Shivamogga district, he said, “The CM staying at one place will work in BJP’s favour. We will get majority seats in the by-election, just like the assembly poll result in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

“CM Kumaraswamy is in fear of losing power and that is why he is saying ‘I will die’. This is to just gain sympathy from the public. Definitely, the present coalition government has very short life. So we will build confidence among public,” he said.

Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat said that the DC must be aware of the circulars of the government and anyone who violates government orders should be punished.

BJP town president Prabhakar Poojary, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon and others were present.