Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS/HB)

Udupi, Sep 5: "Sand mining may start before September 15 in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) area. Before taking out an order on this, the DC is going to hold a meeting with seven member committee. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) has given assurance to make the sand available to the customers before September 20 in the same manner as earlier," said MLA Raghupati Bhat at the press conference that was held at the Kadiyali BJP office near here.

Raghupati Bhat further said, "Official level discussion is held. Three months’ time is sought in order for the Sand App Bazaar to function completely. The district administration can take sand mining in non-CRZ area from October 15. Two tenders have got the eligibility. However, there are nine more conditions and suggestion is given to simply them."

"The previous government had prohibited sand mining during the period of June to September, through KCZ, citing fish breeding season as the reason. However, as per the law the prohibition is applicable only in the months of June and July. Excepting those, on whom FIR is filed, rest all the 150 people are expected to get the permission for sand extraction. As there was no sand extraction in the last year, there is huge stock of sand in the district. It is expected that nearly 8,70,000 metric tonnes of sand will be available," said MLA Bhat.

Giving further details, Raghupati Bhat said, "Our intention is to make the sand available for customers at a cheap price. An appeal is also made not to transport the sand of our district to other districts. It should be used for works that are undertaken in our district only. No one has discussed with me regarding the committee of seven members that is formed to give permission for sand mining. National Green Tribunal (NGT) has become a weapon to threaten. There is no need to fear anyone if we work according to the rules. Those who went to court earlier, may go in the future also."

Ridiculing Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA Bhat said, "If Pramod Madhwaraj applies for BJP membership in future, there is a possibility of considering the same."

District BJP president Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde said that the district BJP is going to felicitate newly appointed state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel after September 14 or 15. Ratnakar also said that there is no connection between BJP and the arrest of political leaders. Even the Income Tax department has raided senior politician like M A Chidambaram. The Congress leaders are misleading the public by spreading false propaganda.

Prabhakar Poojary, president, city BJP, Pradeep Rao and Giridhar Acharya were present.