HAVERI: Former minister K B Koliwad alleged that District Minister C M Udasi and the district administration have failed to control the illegal supply and transportation of sand in the district.
He told media persons here on Wednesday that he is ready to take the media to all illegal sand lifting points, in Irani, Totihal, Haranagiri and Netwalli villages in Ranebennur taluk to prove the truth and challenged Udasi to come along.
Koliwad further stated that the illegal sand mining is taking place through Udasi’s relatives such as Zilla Panchayat member Santoshkumar Patil’s group who use boats in the Tungabhadra and Varada rivers to transport the sand. In case anyone other than Udasi’s supporters try to lift the sand they have to face police charges, he claimed.
Koliwad said that the Congress has written to the Deputy Commissioner and the Mines and Geology Department, but it was of no use as all officials have became toothless because of political pressure.
Koliwad stressed that it is a shame on the BJP government because the High Court has passed strong strictures against the government in two cases: one in Bidari’s selection as IG&DGP and the other in the appointment of the Upa Lokayukta. The Law Department has failed to submit their arguments in the High Court, he charged.
DCC president and former deputy speaker Manohar Tahsildar said that drought relief works were not taken up in Haveri district. Farmers are facing acute fodder shortage and district administration has not arranged for the supply, he said.
Most remote villages in all seven taluks are facing acute shortage of drinking water as well, and no new bore wells have been drilled in the district, he claimed. Instead borewell and pipe line repairs are going on, he said.