Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, May 18: Former minister Pramod Madhwaraj has tweeted over the illegal sand mining that is in progress in Swarna river. " When I was a minister I had asked the then Udupi DC, Priyanka to send a proposal to Environment Ministry to allow mechanised desilting of Swarna river for better storage of water to be supplied to Udupi city. After the state government had given permission to desilt the Swarna river. But, the Udupi municipality have granted rights to politically connected persons to desilt the river. The sand collected was to be sold by the district administration. But now there is illegal large scale smuggling of sand and Lokayukta police have conducted raids recently. I urge that thorough enquiry has to be conducted and all those involved including elected representatives and officers should be booked because such large scale illegality cannot take place without their involvement," he stated.

There have been strong comments on the matter even by former chief minister Siddaramaiah on his official Twitter handle. "The ruling party leaders have been accused of illegal sand dredging and sand smuggling in the golden river of Udupi district. An impartial investigation on this should be carried out and the culprits should be punished," he tweeted in Kannada.

"The man who complained to the Lokayukta about the smuggling of the Swarna River sand is being threatened and police security should be provided immediately. Persons exposed to life expectancy should be identified and punished," he added.

MLA Bhat reacts

MLA K Raghupathi Bhat in his reaction said that the sand extracted from Swarna river is mixed with mud. “The sand is being segregated at the river bank and shifted to the yard at Hiriadka. It is being further separated in a scientific manner there. What is the benefit of taking away sand mixed with mud? I do not know what is illegal in it. Let there be investigations if that is illegal,” he said.