Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Feb 9: Launching a scathing attack on the state government, district BJP president Mattar Rathnakar Hegde said the district administration and the district in-charge minister has failed to solve the problem of sand scarcity in the district.

Adressing mediapersons at BJP office on Thursday, February 9 he said Hegde said, "Sand mafia is growing at a fast pace and sand is being illegaly transported to the neighbouring district. Minister Pramod Madhwaraj from our district does not have guts like late V S Acharya who took a strong decison during his time. Acharya had taken an official approval for a revised draft of sand mining policy giving certain relaxations for the three coastal districts".

Hegde expressing his dissatisfaction also said that it was wake up call for the district administration to solve the sand crisis in the district. "Please take some action, otherwise members of BJP will extract sand from the river and distribute to poor people," he said.

Commenting on the toll fee collection at Hejmady and Gundmi toll plazas Hegde said that National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have the right to collect the fee after completing 80 per cent of the road construction work.

"NHAI has not completed work near Padubidri as the land in that area is yet to be acquired. It is the duty of the state government to acquire land from land owners. This is delaying the national highway work. NHAI should give pass for free movement of vehicles of the twin districts," he added.

Speaking on the regularisation of houses on government land in rural areas under Section 94C of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, Hegde said, "Nearly 15,000 files are pending in Udupi district. Due to protests from people, only 15 to 20 files were cleared. Ministers from our district should try and find a concrete solution for this problem".

BJP members Yashpal Suvarana, Sandhya, Suresh and others were present.