Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 27: Local MLA, K Raghupati Bhat, and MP, Shobha Karandlaje, met the deputy commissioner (DC) of the district, Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, on Friday April 26 and urged her to allow sand extraction in the district on a larger scale.

They drew the attention of the DC to the fact that poor people from the district have been struggling to get sand since the last seven months, and sand extractors have become unemployed. The families which depended on sand extraction are facing financial crisis, they said.

The people's representatives urged the DC not to point to enforcement of election code of conduct as reason for not taking a decision, as Lok Sabha election in the state has concluded. They drew her attention to the fact that sand extraction is not possible during June and July because of monsoon and therefore a decision has to be taken now.

They said that sand extraction can be permitted as per the orders of the state and central governments, and on the issue of tenders, as per the state government rules, a seven-member committee headed by the DC should meet, and issue licences to 170 people for sand extraction. They asked her to make sure that 7.8 lac metric tonnes of sand that is available in Coastal Regulatory Zone is made available to the people. They said that sand extraction is allowed in Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts bordering this district, but not in Udupi. They therefore urged her to get permission from state government and allow sand extraction at the earliest.