Pics: Harshini
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Oct 20: Officials of mines and geology department along with the special tahsildar raided a spot inside the shipyard of Water Ways Shipyard Pvt Ltd at Hangarcutta near Brahmavar on Wednesday October 19 and found sand stock worth crores of rupees that was illegally extracted and stored there.
After the locals complained to him, Brahmavar special tahsildar, Praeep Kurudekar, had promised to conduct spot inspection on Tuesday. Local zilla panchayat member, Raghavendra Kanchan, on a plea by locals, brought to the notice of the district deputy commissioner that no first information report about illegal sand stock was filed, and no action was taken against the erring persons. Thereafter, officials of mines and geology department along with Brahmavar special tahsildar raided the spot on Wednesday.
The shipyard management tried to explain off things by claiming that movement of ships has been facing problems on account of accumulation of silt near the shipyard and to ease the situation, silt and sand were being removed. But the officials noted that no licence or permission was obtained for this activity, and an application seeking permission was filed just two days back. As per an estimate, about 5,400 tonne metric units of sand was stocked, which is worth several crores of rupees. Many locals said that this sand is being transported to other districts and states through ships and other vehicles.
During the raid by the officials, it was found that the dredging machine was moved elsewhere. Villagers blamed officials for overlooking irregularities of such a big scale. Zilla panchayat member, Raghavendra Kanchan, who was present during the raid, urged the officials to undertake proper investigation and take stern action against the guilty.
It is said that activities inside the shipyard are conducted secretly and that locals, people's representatives, media and others are not allowed inside the shipyard. Tahsildar, Pradeep Kurudekhar, mines and geology department officers, Mahesh, V A Cheluvaraju and Mahadesh, Airody gram panchayat development officer, Subhash Kharvi, zilla panchayat member, Raghavendra Kanchan, and others were present.