BJP objects to Minister not holding meeting over shortage of sand, laterite stones; threatens to intensify agitation
Addressing reporters here, Satish Kumpala, president of BJP Dakshina Kannada unit, said, 'Sand and laterite stones should be made available to people under the ambit of law.'
Mr. Kumpala said that Mr. Rao spent a whole day in Mangaluru on Friday without discussing the matter related to the shortage of sand and laterite stones with MLAs, MLCs, and other elected representatives.
Though the BJP had held protests over the shortage of construction materials and the matter was raised in the Karnataka Development Programme Review Committee meeting, Mr. Rao was not bothered to hold any meeting to find out a solution.
Mr. Kumpala said that a BJP delegation met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru a few days ago and apprised him of the matter. The party was hopeful of getting a solution. If not, the party would intensify its agitation.
The BJP leader said that many construction workers in the district did not have employment as extraction of sand and laterite stones had come to a standstill.
Thick, rough sand
Refuting the claim by the Mines and Geology Department that sand of non-Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas is available for purchase at yards through www.dksandbazaar.com website or DK Sand Bazaar App, MLA for Mangaluru City North Y. Bharat Shetty said that the sand in question is thick and rough, which is not suitable for plastering of buildings.
Dr. Shetty said that people need fine sand for construction purpose and claimed that they were not getting sand through the App.
He said that Mr. Rao and U.T. Khader, Speaker of Legislative Assembly, have held meetings in Bengaluru on their own to discuss the matter without taking MLAs and MLCs of the district into confidence.
'What prevents the district Minister to hold a meeting with all elected representatives?,' Dr. Shetty asked.
Concurring with Dr. Shetty, K. Prathapsimha Nayak, MLC, said that rough sand was not suitable for constructing buildings.
MLA for Sullia Bhagirathi Murulya, Kishore Kumar Puttur, MLC, were present.
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