Chaos at ZP meeting over attack on deputy commissioner
Manipal: The ZP general meeting was held on Wednesday April 13 at the Dr V S Acharya Auditorium. Heated arguments were witnessed between the ruling and the opposition members over the attack on the deputy commissioner during the raid on the sand mining area at Kandlur.
ZP member Sharath Batwadi urged the ZP President to pass a resolution condemning the attack on the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner, he also asked for details on the crackdown by the officials on the sand mafia that is destroying the district. He also said that the government was directly responsible for the illegal sand mining in the district. Batwadi alleged of the government’s role in leading the sand mafia and its failure in regulating sand mining in the district. Opposition member Janardhan Thonse said that it is not the failure of the government but ZP members should assess the illegal sand mining in the district and find a solution to the issue rather than passing the buck on the opposition.
The ruling party members said that the Home Ministry’s failure is reflected in the attack on the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner, the incident is a black dot for the district. The all members of ZP echoed their voice against the officials and said that officials of every department were supporting illegal sand mining in the district. The members urged for the supply of sand in the district.
Deputy Commissioner and ZP CEO (Acting) Priyanka Mary Francis said that 90 loads of sand procured illegally was seized, the sand is supplied as per the demand. The legal battle is initiated on the court stay on CRZ sand blocks, A report by NITK will be submitted to the Chennai Green Tribunal on CRZ blocks. She also said that every effort will be made to ensure legal sand mining before the rainy season.
Standing Committee President Uday Kotian stressed on the need for the SP to immediately join the ZP meeting, he said that the labourers who attacked the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner were arrested while the accused who are operating the illegal sand mining are yet to be arrested. ASP Vishnuvardhan said that 20 persons related to the attack on the deputy commissioner at Kandlur were arrested out of the 20, 9 persons are from other states. Two teams have been formed in Udupi and Kundapur to crackdown on the sand mafia. 5 habitual offenders involved in the Kandlur incident are extradited. He also said that investigation is on and all the culprits will be nabbed. The district police is effectively co-operating with the task force and if there is any information on illegal sand mining it should be conveyed to the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, SP and ASP, he added.
The complaints on sale of ganja in Bailoor, Shiroor, Katpadi, Udupi Town and Manipal school premises has been reported said a member, ASP assured necessary action. The members said that the beneficiaries under Basava Vasathi Scheme are yet to receive the funds, officials said that the corporation will be contacted for the release of funds.
ZP Members urged the president to blacklist contractors involved in poor quality work. The Kokkarne vented dam is leaking and the engineers have failed to visit the spot. They urged for stringent action against the engineers.
Kerosene is supplied to people having LPG gas said a member, Food and Civil Supplies officer said that the government has passed a order in which APL card holders will be given 1 liter of kerosene. The members said that the orders passed by government were not effectively shared with the ZP members, Deputy Commissioner ordered the officials to circulate the order copy among the members.
ZP President Dinakar Babu, ZP VP Sheila Shetty, Standing Committee Presidents Babu Shetty, Sashikanth Padubidri and others were present.