Pramod Madhwaraj favouring M-sand Lobby in Udupi – Raghupati Bhat
Udupi: Minister Pramod Madhwaraj is misleading the people by formulating political centred policies said, K Raghupati Bhat at a press meet held at the Press Club, Udupi here on August 23.
Five months have passed after the Green Tribunal vacated the stay allowing sand extraction in CRZ blocks, but the district administration has failed to permit the extraction of the sand in CRZ blocks. The interference of Minister Pramod Madhwaraj is visible in delaying permission for sand extraction. The Environment Board has cleared the NOC on August 5 but the district administration has not responded favourably to permit sand extraction. The delay by the district administration has stopped the development in the district and led the construction industry and the labour class to heavy loss.
The district administration has stayed the renewal of 45 permits out of the 170 who undertake sand mining through traditional means. Issuing permits are delayed citing the failure of applicants to comply with the regulations formulated by the district administration. Pramod Madhwaraj has even politicised business by refraining from issuing permits to the applicants supporting the BJP.
The regulations formulated by the district administration for issuing permits for traditional sand mining seems to be irrelevant. The regulations don’t permit politicians, criminals, non-residents of village limits to extract sand. The applicants if they have applied for the sand block coming under another village of which he is not the resident, then he is not allowed to extract sand. Pramod Madhwaraj runs a factory in Malpe and resides in Kolalgiri, in such a case, he should not operate his factory in Malpe, the regulations formulated for sand mining are nothing but politically motivated. 45 permits stayed by the district administration were operational from the term of the former Deputy Commissioner of Udupi district M.T Reju and Dr Vishal. The stay for the 45 permits makes no sense. The BJP will stage a protest against the interference of Pramod Madhwaraj in issuing permits for sand extraction.
The BJP has met the Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis and has requested her not to fall prey to the politically motivated regulations formulated by Pramod Madhwaraj. If the district administration fails to start sand extraction by August 28, a severe agitation will be launched.
Pramod Madhwaraj is favouring the lobby of M-Sand mafia and thereby destroying the traditional sand mining practice which supports the livelihood of many people. The hoarding advertising of M-Sand is present outside the DC office, he added.
Yashpal Suvarna, Prabhakar Poojary, Upendra Nayak and others were present.