Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 17: The committee formed to fight for right to extract sand in the district has decided to meet the new deputy commissioner of the district, Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, to discuss the matter in an effort to find amicable solution.

Committee leaders met MLA, K Raghupati Bhat, on Saturday February 16 in this regard. During the discussion, a consensus about meeting the deputy commissioner was reached.

A report submitted to Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority identifying about seven lac metric tonnes of sand in eight sand blocks in the second phase has been approved, and the process of giving these sand on lease have yet to be put through.

Raghupati Bhat

Even as the sand shortage and problems faced by sand extractors have not got a lasting solution since a year, the department of mines and geology saw four officers during this period. Senior geologist of the department, Kodandaramayya, had been suspended during February last. Padmaja from Mangaluru was given charge in his place. Padmaja has since ben transferred to Bengaluru and Ramji Naik has been posted in her place. He is yet to take charge.

It is said that days prior to her departure from here, the then deputy commissioner, Priyanka Mary Francis, had taken a decision that the sand extracted should be collected in the stock yards and it should be sold only through the department. The committee members feel that this decision will prove to be a stumbling block in easing the sand supply position.