Sand Row: Maraligagi Horata Samithi calls Udupi Dist Bandh on Nov 10
Udupi: The Maraligagi Horata Samithi along with various organisations, gave a call to Udupi District Bandh on November 10 demanding permits for extraction to be given to all 171 permit holders in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas of the district.
Addressing the press meet at Manipal on October 31, Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat said that both the State government and the district administration are not interested in solving the sand extraction problem in Udupi district. The district administration now wants only those who were permit holders before 2011 to apply for the new permits. This is unfair, he said. The Samiti wanted permits to be provided for 109 traditional sand extractors in the non-CRZ areas. The worst affected owing to the inordinate delay by the administration were the workers in the construction sector, he said.
Raghupathi Bhat, who is leading an indefinite dharna over the sand extraction issue outside the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here from the last seven days, said that the Maraligagi Horata Samithi along with various organisations has decided to call for Udupi Bandh on November 10.
The indefinite Dharna will continue till the district administration gives permits for sand extraction to all 171 permit holders in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas of the district. The district administration should clear the sand extraction matter at the district level. The previous Deputy Commissioners had dealt with the issue expeditiously, but the present Deputy Commissioner only quotes rules and regulations, he said.
Condemning the chief minister Kumaraswamy’s statement over the sand row, Bhat said that if there is a problem from the Union government in sand extraction why was he silent during the meeting which was chaired by him. The government is playing politics in the issue of Sand extraction. Our BJP leaders will meet the Union Government minister of environment and demand relaxation for the extraction of sand in CRZ areas. he said.
Kota Srinivas Poojary leader of Opposition of Legislative Council, Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, Former MP Jayaprakash Hegde and others were present.
