Mangaluru: Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ivan D’Souza has asked Deputy Commissioner of the district Sasikanth Senthil to take immediate measures to ensure that no construction works are stalled due to the unavailability of sand.

Pointing at the ongoing protest of truck owners and construction workers at Udupi district against the unavailability of sand, Ivan D’Souza said on Tuesday, October 23, that the same situation has been prevailing in Dakshina Kannada district also. “As there is a dearth of sand in the district, many construction works are stalled and those in this line and sand mining have become jobless. Though the deputy commissioner had assured of rectifying the problems of sand before October 15, it has not happened so far”, he said. 

Ivan condemned the statement of MLC Srinivas Poojary that it was not the problem of state government. “The responsibility of rectifying the problems in sand fully lies on the shoulders the deputy commissioner of the district and he has utmost power to settle any problems. If there are any issues in the guidelines in extracting sand, it should be relaxed immediately. Hence, DC should take immediate measures to avail sand at a cost of Rs 3000 per load to ensure no construction works including that of the houses of the poor people is stalled due to the issue of lack of sand”, he said. 

Ivan also informed that though sand extraction has not been permitted so far, it was available if people are ready to pay a huge amount. “Sand is illegally being sold at the rate of Rs 9,000 per load. If sand is available in district illegally why it is not getting legally? District administration should rectify all the problems related to sand and fix the rate at Rs 3,000 per load”, he stressed.