Upalokayukta B.S. Patil on Friday directed officials from the Department of Mines and Geology to submit a detailed report on illegal sand extraction in Dakshina Kannada.
Chairing a review meeting, Justice Patil asked the officials to provide details on the complaints received and the related action taken. Deputy Commissioner K.V. Rajendra said that apart from illegal sand extraction, the district also has cases of illegal transportation of red bauxite.
As part of steps to stop the two illegal activities, the district administration has formed a task force at the gram panchayat level, Dr. Rajendra said.
Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Akshay Sridhar said the civic body was working on a proposal of generating electricity by processing waste dumped at the dumping yard in Panchchanady. To avoid the problem caused by garbage slip in Pachchanady, Dr. Rajendra said a study was being done on processing waste at four different places in the city.
Justice Patil asked the district administration to ensure people were not affected from the landfill site.
Seeing some of the long lists of public grievances at the Mangaluru City Corporation, Rural Development, Revenue, Health and Family Welfare, and Forest departments, Justice Patil sought a detailed report on those cases. “If there is inconvenience caused to people in these cases, the Lokayukta will take suo motu cognisance and initiate necessary action,” he said.
While asking officials to cultivate the habit of disposing of files in a given time, Justice Patil said disciplinary action should be taken against those who do not respond to people’s problems and those who function contrary to the rules.
