Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Nov 26: A delegation led by Union minister D V Sadananda Gowda comprising MLA Raghupati Bhat, and former MP Jayaprakash Hegde, will go to New Delhi on Monday November 26 in a fresh bid to resolve the longstanding sand imbroglio. Raghupati Bhat, who informed about the delegation, said that efforts to sort out all issues at the central government level are on to permanently address sand issue that has been bothering this district. He analyzed that sand problem has acquired gigantic proportions because of wrong stands taken by the state government and deputy commissioner of this district.
D V Sadananda Gowda
Speaking during his participation in a private programme here on Sunday November 25, Bhat said that in the previous years, sand was extracted without seeking any clarification from the Union government. "However, this time, both the state government and deputy commissioner are hell bent on getting clarification from the central government. It appears that the deputy commissioner, instead of trying to begin sand extraction, is more interested in how not to begin it. Because she works with that purpose, the sand issue is not getting solved,” he said.
“We have already met the Union minister and requested him to send clarification. Now another delegation under the leadership of Sadananda Gowda will be taken to urge the central government to issue clear cut orders. Once this order comes, sand issue will get resolved permanently. But the deputy commissioner might try to find fault in the order and block sand extraction again," he added.
Former MP Jayaprakash Hegde pointed out that if sand is not extracted, rivers get loaded with sand and give rise to river erosion. He said that the central government had said that as regards sand extraction, state can take a decision. “The state did not comply with this instruction, giving rise to labourers in the industry and others in need of sand facing crisis. I am hopeful that this issue will get addressed permanently," he added.