Udupi: Allegations of illegal sand mining in Swarna river, MLA Bhat seeks investigation


Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, May 18: Former minister Pramod Madhwaraj has tweeted over the illegal sand mining that is in progress in Swarna river. " When I was a minister I had asked the then Udupi DC, Priyanka to send a proposal to Environment Ministry to allow mechanised desilting of Swarna river for better storage of water to be supplied to Udupi city. After the state government had given permission to desilt the Swarna river. But, the Udupi municipality have granted rights to politically connected persons to desilt the river. The sand collected was to be sold by the district administration. But now there is illegal large scale smuggling of sand and Lokayukta police have conducted raids recently. I urge that thorough enquiry has to be conducted and all those involved including elected representatives and officers should be booked because such large scale illegality cannot take place without their involvement," he stated.

There have been strong comments on the matter even by former chief minister Siddaramaiah on his official Twitter handle. "The ruling party leaders have been accused of illegal sand dredging and sand smuggling in the golden river of Udupi district. An impartial investigation on this should be carried out and the culprits should be punished," he tweeted in Kannada.

"The man who complained to the Lokayukta about the smuggling of the Swarna River sand is being threatened and police security should be provided immediately. Persons exposed to life expectancy should be identified and punished," he added.

MLA Bhat reacts

MLA K Raghupathi Bhat in his reaction said that the sand extracted from Swarna river is mixed with mud. “The sand is being segregated at the river bank and shifted to the yard at Hiriadka. It is being further separated in a scientific manner there. What is the benefit of taking away sand mixed with mud? I do not know what is illegal in it. Let there be investigations if that is illegal,” he said.

 

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Ravindra, udupi

    Tue, May 19 2020

    Officers have no time to reply or response to the citizens because of all these illegalities. Today i.e., 19.05.2020, it was screened on the udupi esand website that orders for CRZ will be taken. The site was opened for a fraction of minute. The site opened at 10.01 hours and closed before the clock reaches 10.02 hours. Immediately a next readymade screen saying `New booking dates will be updated ....' was aired. No receiver of phone calls at customer support and no response for the online complaints. It appears that the site is prepared only to rate the illegal sand rate. No government officer has voice to reply to the citizens/tax payers. Only god can help.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • AMAR NATHAL, MANGALORE

    Mon, May 18 2020

    Nothing new. Lets not be surprised or shocked. IAS, IPS officers would be immediately transferred once they attempt to reign on the mafia.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Udupi: Allegations of illegal sand mining in Swarna river, MLA Bhat seeks investigation



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.