H.D. Revanna, leader of the Janata Dal (Secular), has urged the State government to conduct a CID inquiry into the reasons that had prompted H.C. Divakar, Senior Geologist of Mines and Geology Department to opt for voluntary retirement.
According to sources, Mr. Divakar had been prompted to seek voluntary retirement by the alleged threats to his life and pressure being mounted on him from those involved in illegal mining.
Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, Mr. Revanna said that there were reports that the official was under pressure from the mining lobby. The government should collect the details of telephone calls received by him. “The district administration has failed to control illegal transportation of sand. Several loads of sand are being transported against a single permit,” he said.
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Mr. Revanna criticised the district administration for allowing merchants to sell seed potatoes at Rs.1,400 a quintal. The price of seed potato in Punjab was just Rs. 400 a quintal. The merchants, after purchasing the seed potato at Rs. 400 a quintal from Punjab, were selling it here at Rs, 1,400. “If the potato growers suffer losses this year, cases will be filed against the officials. They should be held responsible for the loss suffered by the farmers,” he said.
Mr. Revanna expressed disappointment over the reservations announced for gram panchayat elections. In some wards, it would be difficult to find a candidate as per the reservation allotted, he said.