DK DC’s inaction is cause for thriving sand mafia in DK district

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 05, 2017: In the wake of Udupi deputy commissioner Priyanaka Mary Francis’ courageous action on illegal sand mafia, her counterpart in  Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada has come under fire for being sympathetic to the thriving illegal sand mining in the district.

H Shashidhar Shetty, secretary, Rashtriya Parisara Samrakshana Okkuta, an NGO, told media persons here on April 4, Tuesday that  DK DC Dr. K G Jagadeesha, has been sitting on several complaints submitted by the organization against the illegal sand mining ignoring the matters, "Complaints submitted with valid proofs about the rampant sand mining that has been going on in the district are ignored. The DC has not responded to any of our complaints, nor he has taken action against those involved in illegal sand mining," it is alleged.

Shetty said recently when he went to obtain a gun license following threats from sand mafia, the DC ridiculed him, he mocked saying: "Why are you an an activist that you need a gun to protect yourself?." Later the DC ordered the officials present there not to allow Shetty inside his office. Shetty claimed that he has filed three complaints in different police stations across the district for threat and to protect himself he had applied for a gun licence.


He claimed that Rs 1,400 crore worth sand was illegally extracted in the district and transported to other parts of the state and Kerala. "Yet, the DK DC is not taking any action in this regard," he added.


He said the Okkuta has filed a complaint with the PMO, Administrative Reforms Commission and the state government seeking transfer of the DK DC.


Dr. K G Jagadeesha DC has not commented.