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Udupi : The resettlement of CRZ and Non-CRZ zones should be started simultaneously. The tender system of sand extraction should be abandoned at the Non-CRZ zones, said K Raghupathy Bhat, Udupi MLA.

Addressing to agitators against district administration on sand issue at Udupi Deputy Commissioner’s office on Thursday, 25^th October led by Udup district Sand Fighting Committee and other various Organizations at Manipal, Raghupathy Bhat said that decision on the state cabinet should be implemented and a separate sand policy on the coast should be implemented, he said.

Bhat said that 171 permitors should be allowed to sand. The Collector must bot be transferred immediately without the courage to start sand extraction. He alleged that the District Administration was trying to divert the fight by telling lies about sand extraction.

The district administration will not be bent on any false promises but the fight will continue until the sand extraction begins in the district. It was not possible to negotiate with the Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police for sand problems solution in the district. Earlier DC appointed AC on Sand mining issue. What is the use to make committee under him, he asks.

Now, we are not negotiating with anybody in regard to sand extraction permit. Anyhow, due to tremendous problems for scores of people of the district, the sand extraction should be started. Till then, we are not in the position to go back our agitation with any other false negotiations with anyone, he said.

Raghupathy Bhat said that during the meeting of KDP with chief minister and district in-charge minister, the state government ordered DC to start sand mining from 16^th October. We have the meeting with chief minister along with four other concerned ministers, Two DCs and other officials. The chief minister had given order to sand mining from October 16. But, unfortunately, the sand extraction not started in the district., he said.

He said that district administration is only bothered about the National Green Tribunal guidelines. The legal sand mining has not problem in the National Green Tribunal court. Only our district administration bothered about the NGT, he said.

Sunil Kumar Karkala MLA said that in the CRZ range, five acres would be required to identify the sand dunes in 50,000 sans. Only two mounds have been identified so far, though there is a chance to mark 100 mounds across Karkala Taluk. The district administration should grant permission to bring sand from Gurpur in order to overcome the problem of sand, he said.

Jerry Vincent Dias, President of Udupi district Builders’ Association criticized the state government with his hard hitting address that if the situation continues in the district, it will create a self-killing environment. The state government has been persecuting people over the issue of sand in the district. He appreciated the initiatives of late Dr. V. S Acharya and now Raghupathy Bhat for their contribution for the development of the district. Hence, Raghupathy Bhat got the blessings from God and he won the election. He said we need former DC like Punnuraj who had done well enough for the district. The present DC who could not solve the sand crisis in the district, it was appropriate to be transferred from our district, he said.

Byndoor MLA Sukumar Shetty, President of Boat Owner’s Association Sudhakar, Engineers’ Association President Gopal Bhat, BJP district President Mattar Rathnakar Hegde, Zilla Panchayat Vice President Sheela K Shetty, Convener of Sand fight Committee MG Nagendra, Karve State Convener Prasanna Shetty and other spoke during the protest agitation.

Udupi ZP President Dinakar Babu, KKV district president Ansar Ahmed, District Chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Krishnaraj Kodancha, Zilla Panchayat members Reshma Uday Shetty, Geethanjali Suvarna, Shilpa Suvarna, Udupi Taluk Panchayat President Nalini Pradeep Rao, Bus Owners’ Association President Kulaidy Suresh Nayak, Tippers Owners’ Association President Praveen Suvarna and other associations officials and members were present.