Solve sand row, Udupi district administration told

Udupi District In-charge Minister Jayamala has expressed displeasure over the district administration’s failure to solve the row over shortage of sand.

Addressing a press meet after discussions with MLAs on Sunday, she said that in spite of the chief minister demanding an end, the deputy commissioner has delayed, giving survey of sand bars as reason. She said she would speak to the deputy commissioner again.

“I had brought the matter to the notice of the deputy commissioner and asked officers to examine possibility of allowing manual sand extraction. Now, the deputy commissioner has asked the assistant commissioner to survey the sand bars. She should issue permission for sand extraction at the earliest,” she said.

MLA K Raghupathi Bhat has given an ultimatum of Wednesday September 19 to solve the row. “If we fail to get solution, then all the MLAs from the district will protest from September 20,” he warned.

Leader of Opposition in Council Kota Srinivas Poojary said, “Around 3,500 houses under Basava Vasathi Yojane have been sanctioned in the district. However, the work has remained incomplete due to the non-availability of sand. If we fail to get solution, the protest for the sake of people is inevitable,” he said.