Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 20: On Sunday July 19, state home minister Dr V S Acharya directed the Dakshina Kannada district administration to enforce a total ban on the movement of ore-laden trucks in the district till September 30, in view of the danger they pose to the safety of roads and bridges. He issued this direction after presiding over a meeting held in the office of the deputy commissioner here, to review the losses inflicted by heavy rains.

MLAs Abhaychandra Jain, U T Khader and Ramanath Rai pleaded with the home minister to ban the movement of ore trucks, by pointing out the pathetic state the roads and bridges in the district have been relegated to, because of the movement of the heavily loaded ore trucks. They pointed out that Uttara Kannada district has been imposing ban on the ore trucks during the rainy season every year. Concurring with their views, Acharya asked the district administrator to enforce ban on these truck with immediate effect.

He also asked the officials to be in readiness in case the move of the district administration is challenged in courts. The officials should be fully prepared to convince the courts the danger the roads and bridges face from the ore trucks, he said.

"This issue was discussed even at the Karnataka Development Programme meeting held on Saturday. A decision to ban movement of ore trucks from 8 am to 8 pm has been taken. After holding discussions with the deputy commissioner, the ban would be enforced immediately," said district in-charge minister Krishna J Palemar.