District admn to curb illegal sand mining: DC

The district administration has taken steps to check illegal sand mining and make quality sand available for general public. Measures have been taken to identify sand blocks, start the tender process, said Deputy Commissioner B S Shekharappa.

Speaking at an interaction programme with journalists at Press Club on Saturday, he said the district administration is taking all measures to ensure that illegal sand mining is curbed in the district. The metre limit has been reduced from 500 to 50-100, while bidding. Steps will be taken to check any damages incurred on lakes, rivers and bridges while mining.

“I have noticed that filter sand  is being transported to Chikmagalur and the same sand has also been used in government works. I have instructed the officers to take strict action against the wrong doers. The district administration will not allow dredging of filter sand,” he affirmed.

Commenting on the new Land Acquisition Act, he said the new Act is more transparent and pro- people friendly. The State government has constituted a committee to form guidelines for implementing the Act introduced by the Central government. No land can be forcefully acquired by the farmers once the new Act comes into force. Seventy per cent of the farmers will have to agree for the land acquisition for a project. Compensation and rehabilitation should be provided before acquiring the land. More importantly the project has to be taken up on private-public partnership by involving farmers, Shekharappa said.
Responding to complaints regarding releasing of waste from coffee pulper units to water sources, the DC said notices will be issued to the concerned from the gram panchayat and pollution control board.

Answering a query on the case of desecration of a place of worship in the city recently, Superintendent of Police R Chethan said he was informed that anticipatory bail has been granted to the third accused in the case, but that individual has not appeared before the court. “We are not bothered about any political party or an individual. However influential the accused be, we will arrest him. The investigation is in progress,” he said.

He also warned of taking tough action against those who were involved in or part of gambling.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Karunakar said parts of Chikmagalur, Tarikere and Kadur taluks are facing severe shortage of drinking water.

Despite abundant water availability in the backwaters of Bhadra reservoir in the district, it has not been possible to utilise the water in a proper way. The Zilla Panchayat is planning to implement a few schemes to solve the drinking water crisis in plains, he said.