Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 18: MLA, U T Khader, has accused Dakshina Kannada district administration of owning discriminatory policies with regard to sand mining in River Netravati, and has demanded for stopping this practice with immediate effect.

Addressing a press conference in the office of the Congress Party here on Wednesday March 17, he said that the people, who depended entirely on sand mining for a living, had been facing untold miseries, as sand mining from the Netravati River bed was stopped about ten days ago, as per the oral orders of the task force of the district administration.  He pointed out that thousands of people, who depended on this activity, are facing a uncertain future.

Khader alleged that sand mining activity is going on unbridled at the bank on the other side of the river without any hitches, and that about five hundred loads of sand is being transported to Kerala from there. “The sand, which is sold at about three hundred rupees per load in the district, is being sold for Rs 2,000 to 3,000 in Kerala. As such, the local people are not able to get the sand required by them, he said and asked the government to permit sand mining within Ullal constituency and to fix a standard price for the sand so mined.

He noted, that the Chief Minister, of late, has been saying that a new law will be enacted in the state as regards sand transportation. Pointing out that the quantum of sand available widely differs from one district to the other, he wanted the powers to regulate sand mining to be delegated to the respective gram panchayats instead of bringing a uniform law all over the state.

He accused Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation of compromising on its motto of serving the people, and laying more stress on profit making. Khader asked the KSRTC to run buses to rural places like Harekala, Amblamogaru and Pavoor in Ullal constituency to serve the villagers there, instead of concentrating on running frequent buses to Kasargod and introducing Volvo buses on Manipal route.

Khader accused the returning officers of cooperative institutions of rejecting the nomination papers of the candidates supported by his party unnecessarily, by citing High Court order, and expressed his intention to complain to the Lokayukta about this practice.

Congress leaders, U H Ummer, Jabbar, Sudhir and some others were present at the press conference.