Sand shortage in Hassan, rocks Zilla Panchayat meeting

The issue of shortage of sand in the district rocked the ZP meeting, held here, on Friday. ZP members cutting across party lines took the officials of Public Works Department to task, for their alleged failure to address the issue.

Member Devegowda complained that though the same issue was discussed at ZP meeting held three months ago, no efforts had been made by the authorities concerned to address the same.

Members Lakshman, Amit Shetty, Chandregowda and others alleged that sand was not being supplied to the public even after three months after submission of the Demand Draft. “But, sand is made available to parties who are ready to pay Rs 32,000 per load,” he alleged.

The department was targetting and seizing sand from farmers found transporting a tractor load of sand for small construction purposes.

However, the same officials were turning a blind eye over sand laden lorries, which line up along Hassan bypass road, the members said.

Members also noted that while the district administration had fixed rates for sand, it had not fixed truck fares, allowing lorry owners to fleece the public.

“They have been demanding Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000, to transport sand for a distance of only a few kilometres,” they said.

PWD engineer Krishnamurthy said that the problem would be solved in 30 to 40 days as permission had been given by the government to lift sand at 43 places in the district.

Pacifying the members, ZP CEO U P Singh said a meeting that was held by the previous DC had decided that out of the sand extracted, 50 per cent will be distributed for government works and remaining for public use. He directed the officials to submit him a report on the amount of sand extracted and distributed.

Water woes
Kusuma Balakrishna, a member, said that complaints on drinking water with flouride content had been reported from some villages, and stressed to take necessary action.

One work, two bills
Referring to a drinking water project at Ullamgana village in Arkalgud taluk, ZP member Nanjundegowda said that the contractor had submitted bills for the same work, at both zilla panchayat and the concerned grama panchayat.

Singh said that the matter had not come to his notice and assured to initiate a probe into the same.
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