Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 4: District in-charge minister, Dr Jayamala, promised to take prompt steps to identify sand blocks in non-Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) and to extract sand manually. "We will see that traditional sand extraction is allowed, and a lasting solution is found for the sand shortage faced in the district before October 15," she asserted.

She was speaking at a press meet organized on Wednesday October 3 for providing details of decisions taken at the district progress meeting organized earlier in the day at the zilla panchayat auditorium here.

"Three sand blocks have already been identified in non-CRZ area in the district. The sand from these blocks would be provided on priority basis for houses, construction of which is either pending or partially completed under various government schemes, and government buildings. The district administration will be fixing price for the sand taken out from these blocks. At the same time, details of houses and buildings that are pending for want of sand in gram panchayats would be collected through the respective panchayat development officers, and sand would be provided to them through the gram panchayats in question," she explained.

She explained that report of National Institute of Technology - Suratkal about sand extraction in coastal regulatory zone is expected to be received before October 5, after which decision on sand extraction from these areas would be taken.

"We have already instructed contractors to immediately seal the potholes on the national highway. They have been also told to allow traffic on service roads which have already been completed, and to install road safety signs on the highway. Officials of National Highways Authority of India have promised to complete all works in the district that fall under national highway including Karavali Junction flyover before March 31, 2019," the minister stated.

Jayamala clarified that 7,598 ration cards are yet to be distributed and the department has been asked to complete this work soon. "Out of 11 Ambedkar Bhavans sanctioned to the district, sites have been identified for five. Land for the other nine Bhavans will be identified before October 15," she clarified.

The minister said that the concept of mobile Anganwadys has been implemented by the state government with the aim of ensuring good health and education for the children of migrant labourers, adding that one each such Anganwadi would be sanctioned to the five assembly constituencies in the district. She also promised to move a proposal to the government seeking payment of compensation to people whose crops have been affected by the rotting disease in 7,600 hectares.

District in-charge secretary, Maheshwar Rao, deputy commissioner of the district, Priyanka Mary Francis, and zilla panchayat chief executive officer, Shivananda Kapashi, were present.