Something is wrong in Karnataka! CM's advisor writes letter alleging free rein to sand mafia:

News Topical, Digital Desk : It appears that the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka is now in trouble. Allegations are being leveled that the sand mafia is being given free rein to loot the state. These allegations are being made by none other than Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's advisor, Basavaraj Rayareddy. He has even written a letter to the Chief Minister in this regard.

Officials are also helping the sand mafia

In a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Basavaraj Rayareddy stated that departmental officials are also aiding the sand mafia and that serious action should be taken against them. He alleged that corrupt officials are colluding with sand smugglers. He accused them of embezzling over ₹400 crore in royalty revenue that should have gone to the government.

plunder of natural resources

Basavaraj Rayareddy has written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding strict action against the sand mafia and the officials who are helping them. He said, "Corrupt officials and the sand mafia are together plundering the state's natural resources. If we can ensure income tax and GST collection, then why are there problems in collecting royalty on sand.

proposal of transparent system

He has proposed a simple and transparent system where homeowners would pay royalties for construction sand directly to the government, eliminating middlemen and the influence of the mafia.

Large-scale exploitation of the Tungabhadra River

According to their complaint, 100-150 trucks of sand and gravel are being illegally transported every day from areas approximately 85 km from the Tungabhadra River. More than 200 people are involved in this illegal operation. Surprisingly, officials from the Department of Mines and Geology, who are supposed to curb this illegal trade, are allegedly the backbone of this racket.

Suggestion to create a task force

Some officers have been posted in the same area for 12-13 years, damaging the department's reputation. Rayareddy demanded strict action against more than 10 officers and their immediate transfer. He also suggested forming a task force headed by the Deputy Commissioner to monitor the situation. He specifically named senior geologist Pushpalatha among those allegedly aiding illegal activities. Basavaraj Rayareddy demanded disciplinary action against Pushpalatha and other officers.