Transparency sought in disposal of sand extraction applications

Transparency sought in disposal of sand extraction applications

Mangalore Today News Network

 Udupi, Aug 19,2017: Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, president of the district unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said on Friday that the applications for permits to extract sand in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas in Udupi district should be disposed of in a transparent manner.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Hegde said that nearly 90% of those applying for sand extraction work in the district were Congress workers, while the remaining were BJP workers.

Even then, the authorities had come up with new conditions to stop the BJP workers from getting permits for extracting sand. One such condition was that there should be no criminal cases against the extractors. But normally, the BJP workers had cases of rioting against them.

BPL cards

He said that the below the poverty line (BPL) ration cards of nearly 6,000 persons in the district had got cancelled either because they had not been linked to Aadhaar number or other technical reasons.

These persons were not able to receive subsidised foodgrains. Hence, the authorities should take immediate steps to provide them with BPL cards.

Delegation

A delegation of the BJP leaders, including B.S. Yeddyurappa, former Chief Minister, and Shobha Karandlaje, MP, had recently met Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, and Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh, and urged them to expedite the development of the proposed Rs. 140-crore Hejmady fisheries harbour.

While Mr. Gadkari had promised to release Rs. 70 crore for the development of the harbour, the State government should also contribute in its share. The development of this harbour would help the fishermen.

Fishnets

Mr. Yeddyurappa had also met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and urged him to reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on fishnets from 12 % to 5 % and if possible, to remove it totally. Mr. Jaitley had promised that he would look into the matter, Mr. Hegde said.

Courtesy: The Hindu