DC Attack: I was physically campaigning for the by-elections, but my mind was in Udupi – Pramod Madhwaraj
Udupi: I have been in regular contact with the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner, the probe on the attack has been intensified said the Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Minister in-charge district Pramod Madhwaraj. He was speaking with the media persons during his visit to his office to hear grievances from the here on April 8.
The deputy commissioner soon after the attack had sent a message at 12:15 am following that the Superintendent of Police also sent a message at 3:45 am. Though I was physically present in Gundlupet campaigning for the by-elections, my mind was in Udupi, I had given necessary directions to nab the accused. I have also spoken against the illegal sand mining reported in Udupi district, at several instances I have given the information on illegal sand mining areas to the assistant commissioner to raid the area. I have given the freedom to the government officials to perform their duties, and I still face criticism.
The Green Tribunal, Supreme Court of India has set aside the contracts given under CRZ area to procure sand, the tribunal in its order said that the rules were not effectively followed while procuring sand from the CRZ, for the same the then Deputy Commissioner Dr R Vishal IAS has to be blamed. He had allowed the transportation of sand to Bengaluru and Mysuru and even had allowed the sand mining in Haradi and Baikadi amid public uproar. The people of Haradi and Baikadi have filed cases in the court.
The process for allowing sand mining in blocks in the CRZ area will have to be implemented under the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. We are not delaying the process but we are strengthening the process within the legal parameters.
The cabinet sub-committee has completed 4 sittings on the sand mining code, two separate codes will be formulated, one for U.K, D.K and Udupi districts and the other for rest of the districts in Karnataka. The draft cabinet note will be sent to all the members of the cabinet sub-committee and later on the draft will be sent to the cabinet for approval. The people are demanding to lease the sand blocks and not to auction them. During the term of Late Dr V S Acharya rules were not formed but now the rules have been formed.
“I have to play a larger role, I have to stop the illegal sand mining and also have to see that there is availability of the sand to the people here in the district”.
The Opposition has criticised my absence after the attack on the deputy commissioner, if I was here, the opposition would have questioned my presence saying I was interfering in the probe. The Superintendent of Police has said that the probe is moving in the right direction and everyone involved in the attack on the deputy commissioner will be nabbed, he added.
While the Minister was asked why there was no arrest of the persons who was operating the illegal sand blocks, he said that police have intensified the probe and they will be nabbed soon.
The Minister was further questioned on the arrest of labourers from UP and Bihar while no arrests of the locals were made even when the deputy commissioner had said that the assaulters were speaking Kannada, he said that the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner has said that the locals had rescued them, not all in the mob had assaulted the deputy commissioner and her team, the probe will come up with concrete details.
Everyone is seeking perfection in the work, but the process behind the work has to be understood, jumping to a conclusions will not lead us anywhere. You should appreciate that I am giving a free hand to the officials, he added.
He also said that the party is confident of winning the Gundlupet and Nanjangud assembly elections. He dismissed the claims that money has been circulated for the voters.