Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jun 25: At a time when the district is reeling under shortage of sand and increased activity of illegal sand extraction, MP, Shobha Karandlaje, said that the parliament has given its approval for scaling down the applicability of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) norms to 200 metres from the sea from the earlier 500 metres. She urged the state government to put in specific efforts to see that the said reduction is made applicable in coastal Karnataka too.
She was speaking to media representatives after visiting Kaup municipality for the first time on Saturday June 24.
Karandlaje said that proposal seeking to open a passport office in the city had been submitted in the past and that union minister for external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, has given her approval for this proposal. She said that efforts are on to see that this centre becomes operational here soon. Noting that the district has 58,000 families which have no LPG connection, she informed that the 'Ujjwala' scheme of the central government under which free gas connection is provided to poor families, will be launched soon at Kokkarne village.
To a question relating to proposed airport near Padubidri, Shobha said she is yet to get any concrete details about this proposal. She said it would be good if this materializes, adding that she welcomes this move.
Fielding a question about allegations being made by some Congress activists about her failure to visit rural places in Kaup constituency, Shobha said she is not worried about comments passed by people guided by goonda culure. "Let the people making these remarks cogitate on their past, present, and what they are indulging in," she advised.
About inordinate delay in widening national highway 66 at Padubidri, Karandlaje said that the process of land acquisition is progressing there and asked the district administration to move fast in disbursing compensation to land owners and acquire the land for road construction. She promised to hold discussions with the deputy commissioner on this issue soon.
BJP leaders, Tingale Vikramarjun Hegde, Lalaji Mendon, Suresh Shetty Gurme, Prakash Shetty Padebettu, Arun Shetty Padoor, Geetanjali Suvarna, Shilpa Suvarna, and others were present.