Mangaluru: BJP holds protest over sand scarcity, hits out at state govt

Mangaluru, Nov 3: The Mangaluru city unit of Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday organised a mass protest in front of the office of deputy commissioner here to exert pressure on the district administration and state government to address the sand scarcity.

Addressing the protesters, D Vedavyas Kamath, Mangaluru City South MLA, said there is widespread problem in various sectors due to non-availability of sand. The state government and district administration is dilly-dallying on the issue of giving permission for sand mining. This is not the correct step and is causing problems to middle and lower-middle income group people, he said.

Sand rate is beyond their reach and with that their dream of constructing their own dwelling, the MLA said, adding the government must understand their plight and act. He warned that his party would intensify the protest if the the authorities concerned filed to find a permanent solution to the issue.

Noting that a high powered meeting that CM H D Kumaraswamy chaired in Bengaluru recently had assured to provide a solution to the issue in 15-days, the MLA said more than a month has passed post the fortnight deadline with no solution in sight.

As far as sand extraction in CRZ areas was concerned, the State government wrote to the Union government on October 25 and has already sought clarifications on certain aspects. The State was waiting for directions from the Union government. Hence, the State government wanted some time in the matter.

The protest in Mangaluru comes two days after the Maralu Horata Samiti of Udupi district ended its eight-day-long dharna in front of the Udupi Deputy Commissioner’s Office following talks between the protestors and Rajendra Kataria, Secretary, Department of Commerce and Industries (Mines and MSME), November 1.