Sand issue: Meeting with new DC soon

Udupi: In an effort to find amicable solution for the sand issue, the committee fighting for the right to extract sand in the district has decided to meet the new deputy commissioner of the district Hephsiba Rani Korlapati soon.

A consensus about meeting the deputy commissioner was reached at a meeting by committee leaders with MLA, K Raghupati Bhat, on Saturday February 16.

Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority has approved the reports submitted to it identifying 7 lakh metric tonnes of sand in eight sand blocks in the second phase. However the process of leasing out the sand blocks is yet to occur.

Since a year, no lasting solution has been found for the sand shortage and problems faced by sand extractors in the district, however during this period, the department of mines and geology saw four officers. Senior geologist of the department Kodandaramayya was suspended during February last. His charge was given to Padmaja from Mangaluru; however Padmaja has since been transferred to Bengaluru. Ramji Naik who has been posted in her position is yet to take charge.

Apparently, days before her departure from the distirct, the then deputy commissioner, Priyanka Mary Francis, had taken a decision making sure for the extracted sand to be collected in the stock yards and be sold only through the department. This move has only caused an hindrance for easing the sand supply position, feel the committee members.