H.C. Divakar, Senior Geologist of the Mines and Geology Department in Hassan, has sought voluntary retirement. The officer has cited pressure on him to work in favour of those transporting sand flouting norms in his plea for voluntary retirement.
The officer along with Revenue Department officers stopped trucks on B.M. Road near Alur and seized 56 trucks carrying more quantity of sand than the permitted limit. Following this incident, members of the Truck Owners’ Association had staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and demanded release of trucks. Many influential people had spoken to him over phone and pressured him to release the trucks. Mr. Divakar refused to speak to presspersons though he stated that he had sought VRS.
A senior colleague of Mr. Divakar, speaking to The Hindu over phone from Bengaluru, said that at least 70 per cent of the officers in the Mines and Geology Department were in the mood to quit because of work pressure and harassment. “As many as nine departments are involved in handling sand extraction activities. But, whenever something goes wrong, officers of the Mines and Geology Department are held responsible. The department is already short staffed. We cannot take this pressure. A few other officers in the department have sought VRS”, the officer said on the condition of anonymity.
‘Nine departments are involved in handling sand mining. But whenever something goes wrong, officers of the Mines and Geology Department are held responsible’
