Pic: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 31: MLA Raghupati Bhat on Thursday, August 30 said that he has been trying his best to solve sand problem affecting the district since the day he got elected as legislator. He said that he could not achieve the desired progress as his party is not ruling the state now. He offered to extend support to former MLA and minister Pramod Madhwaraj, if he undertakes apolitical protest demonstration in front of the office of the deputy commissioner here from September 1 onward. "I am ready to sit with him in dharna without break all through day and night to solve this problem," he announced.

Addressing a press conference at town BJP office at Kadiyali here, Bhat said he has already spoken to the chief minister, revenue minister, and the district-in-charge minister on the issue. “I had never fixed any date for solving this problem. The permit process is getting delayed because BJP did not come to power in the state, he clarified, apart from hitting back at Madhwaraj for criticizing him for promising to address sand problem within a month and failing to do so. The MLA reiterated that he had not set himself any time frame for completing this task, and held the coalition government in the state responsible for delay on the issue.

“As per the instructions of Green Tribunal, the deputy commissioner (DC) of the district had stopped issuing permits for sand extraction under Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules. A delegation of five legislators under the leadership of MLC Pratapchandra Shetty recently met the deputy commissioner here and urged her to solve the sand shortage problem. The district administration was to identify sand blocks before August 15, but this has not happened. DC conducted two meetings regarding sand extraction. The second meeting with seven committee members was held on August 28. In this meeting it was decided to conduct Bathymetric survey to identify sand blocks which create hurdles for fishing boats to move about so that permission to remove them can be granted. But this method would pose a problem for the leasing process. We are regularly following the sand extraction issue. But unfortunately BJP is not in the power. The BJP opposes Bathymetric survey,” he said.

"Congress is behaving as if they are doing everything and we are to blame for the delay. As a matter of fact, former MLA Pramod himself created hurdles against finding a solution to this issue," Bhat alleged.

Bhat said that the sand problem was the gift of the Congress government which committed a blunder by providing wrong information to central government, thus ensuring that sand extraction in CRZ areas is not permitted. He said that there would not have been any problem if sand extraction was permitted by following the previous system. He argued that because of the fault of Congress, separate CRZ rules for coastal Karnataka could not be formulated. He again charged Madhwaraj of doing everything within his command to make sure that sand extraction is not resumed in this district.

“The decision was actually supposed to be taken by Pramod Madhwaraj during his term as MLA. There is no need to politicize the sand mining issue. Let him lead the protest. I would demand the DC to conduct survey through NITK team instead of Bathymetric survey,” said Bhat.

There was no water shortage in the city from 2006 to 2013. Pramod initiated corruption in water supply by supplying water through tankers to the city and rural areas. The water pumping method and water treatment plant need to be upgraded. At present there are 18,000 pump set connections. It was neglected by Congress led CMC administration, he felt.

Commenting on coalition government completing 100 days, Bhat said, “the coalition government has failed to make an impact. There is no positive response from public. Not even a single work has been done.”

Commenting on Pramod’s statement that, 'Udupi got glamorous district-in-charge minister’, Bhat said, “so far the glamorous minister has not conducted KDP meeting. People's love and confidence is the true glamour.”

Prabhakar Poojary, president, town BJP, and BJP leaders, Raghavendra Kini and Upendra Nayak were present.