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Reportedly, Mr Ritesh gave positive response on helping the locals to avail sand. He mentioned that there is no strict rule that contracts in this respect should be allotted to only those contractors who were extracting sand before the year 2011. People who have entered this field thereafter can also be considered, he added.
The MLA informed that the official also told him that state government’s principal secretary in the department of mines, Rajendra Kataria, had kept him abreast of the sand problem affecting people of Udupi district and the protests being held there.
“We have now held preliminary level talks. Next week we will personally meet union minister for environment, Dr Harshavardhan, and have discussions with him. I have no doubt about getting positive outcome from these efforts,” said Mr Bhat.