Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Nov 12: Legislators expressed concern over the continued high price of laterite stone despite the government reducing royalty rates. They urged the district administration to take steps to control the situation during the Dakshina Kannada District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting held at the zilla panchayat auditorium under the chairmanship of MP Brijesh Chowta.
Raising the issue, MLA Umanath Kotian said that those engaged in laterite stone extraction were facing difficulties, leading to earlier demands for a royalty reduction. “Although the government has reduced the royalty, the price of laterite has increased from around Rs 25 to Rs 60 per piece. Despite the royalty reduction, prices have not dropped. The district administration should take control of the stone quarries if necessary,” he suggested.
MLAs Dr Bharath Shetty, Vedavyas Kamath, Harish Poonja, and Bhagirathi Murulya also pressed for steps to bring down laterite prices.
Deputy commissioner Darshan H V said a meeting had been held with the Laterite Stone Quarry Owners’ Association. “The royalty per tonne was reduced from Rs 295 to Rs 100, yet prices have not fallen. If this continues, the district administration will withdraw its support,” he warned. He added that a final decision would be made before the upcoming KDP meeting.
He further informed that tenders had been called for 16 blocks in non-CRZ areas, with live bidding completed in four locations and the process ongoing in 18 more. In total, tenders have been invited for 38 new blocks. If there are no bidders, re-tenders will be issued. However, permission has not been granted for quarrying in CRZ zones, he clarified.
During the meeting, MLA Vedavyas Kamath raised concerns about ESI cardholders being denied general medical treatment at private hospitals under the ESI scheme due to pending renewals by the state government. The DC assured that the issue would be discussed with the state medical department commissioner.
Providing an update on road projects, officials stated that out of the 48.48 km stretch between Periye and B C Road, 43.1 km of work had been completed, with the remaining work expected to finish by March. When officials mentioned that locals had objected to rock blasting at Neerakatte, the MP directed the Puttur assistant commissioner to intervene and resolve the issue promptly.
The DC questioned why KSRTC divisions in Mangaluru and Puttur had not submitted applications to operate services in areas where there was public demand. “If applications are submitted, they will be approved,” he said. He further directed the RTO officials to conduct surveys on private operators cutting trips despite having permits and to cancel such permits, transferring them to KSRTC.
The Surathkal–B C Road national highway is currently managed by the New Mangalore Port Road Company but will soon come under the National Highways Logistics Management Ltd, facilitating NHAI funding. MP Chowta informed that after continuous efforts, the highway will soon be handed over to NHAI for four-lane development. Tenders have already been floated for selecting an agency to prepare the DPR for improvements and rectification of black spots. Plans include a six-lane flyover between Baikampady and KIOCL Junction, a bypass road between Surathkal and B C Road, and a light vehicle underpass at Baikampady.
NHAI project director Abdullah Javed Azmi said that the Kulur bridge construction would be completed by January, with concrete road work to follow, allowing vehicular movement by March.
ZP CEO Vinayak Narvade Karbari, deputy conservator of forests Anthony Mariappa, Mangaluru sub-divisional officer Meenakshi Arya, and senior officials from various departments were present at the meeting.