Expressing serious displeasure over unhindered illegal sand extraction and gambling activities in Raichur district, Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi has warned that he would recommend to the State government to take action against Raichur Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police if they failed to stop them.
Chairing the quarterly Karnataka Development Programme meeting in Raichur on Monday, Mr. Savadi took the officers to task when MLAs D.S. Hulageri and Basanagowda Daddal complained that illegal sand extraction was rampant in the district. They also said that matka (gambling) has been going on without hindrance in Lingsugur taluk and the officers concerned have failed to prevent such activities to keep society safe.
Responding to them, Mr. Savadi, who is also district in-charge, said that “one year has already passed after I took charge of the district and I have been suggesting to officers to prevent all illegal activities. Despite repeated instructions, you are not taking it seriously and it seems that you are misusing my leniency. Now onwards, I will not excuse you. When officers fail to discharge their duties efficiently, the Deputy Commissioner, the Chief Executive Officer and the Superintendent of Police will be held accountable.”
Continuing to question the officers, he, at one point, warned that “I would recommend to the State government to take action against the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police if such illegal activities are not stopped immediately.” He then directed Deputy Commissioner R. Venkatesh Kumar to take initiatives to suspend Senior Scientist of Mines and Geology Department Vishwanath.
The Deputy Chief Minister sharply asked the RTO “why did you not intercept trucks carrying sand illegally? You will have to face action in future if you do not work diligently.”
Sanganna Karadi, MP, Shivaraj Patil, Venkatarao Nadagouda, Shivanagowda Naik, MLAs, Adimani Veeralakshmi, president of Zilla Panchayat, and district-level officers were present.