JD(S) Kodagu District President V P Shashidhar has hinted that, the party would go on a strike on Ugadi day (March 23) if district administration fails to stop illegal sand mining in the district.
Addressing the reporters in the city on Friday he said that, despite PWD Department distributing sand in the district, very few influential have got the permit to supply sand because of support from BJP MLA Appacchu Ranjan.
“Sand is being illegally supplied to some other districts from Kodagu. As a result government is losing income in crores. Ruling BJP party members are getting 90 per cent of sand mining tender. Tender process is being conducted in such a way that no one else gets a chance to participate,” he said adding that illegal sand mining is going on blatantly in and around Kodlipet. People fear to talk about it openly after the Tahsildar of the area was transferred for trying to stop the mining.
Harangi project
“The State government has released a special grant of Rs eight crore for Harangi canal work. Funds of Rs 3.7 crores for main canal and Rs seven crores for sub-canals too have been released,” he said adding that BJP MLAs have been impossible irrelevant regulations during the tender process just to ensure that the contract are given to their people.
Shashidhar doubted that something has gone wrong in the estimation list and demanded the district administration to form investigation Vigilance Committee for overall investigation in to the Harangi project.
‘Grama Vastavya drama’
V P Shashidhar mocked at MLA Appacchu Ranjan’s Grama Vastavya in a tribal colony, saying it was nothing but a drama. He challenged the MLA to stay at Mavinahalla, Rampapura and other villages which are crushed under illegal mining. “MLA can make an effort to understand the problems of the villagers there too,” he added.
