Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jul 10: The members of Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike Udupi unit on Friday July 10 staged a protest against the ban on sand excavation near the Clock Tower, here.

Chittaranjan Das Shetty, district said, "The ban on sand mining has already hit the livelihood of many families. Only the rich class and the capitalists may be benefitted. The entire construction work of buildings is connected to sand mining. House owners and contractors will find it extremely difficult to complete their housing plan.

He stressed on the need for the immediate withdrawal of the ban otherwise the members of the vedike will protest in a more aggressive manner if such a long-term ban is imposed on sand mining.

Addressing the protesters, Jeppu Yogish Shetty, president of the vedike said that the district authority should have been aware of the impact of the sand ban before passing such an unscientific order. All the contractors, construction workers, house owners, entrepreneurs are interdependent in one way or another. The sudden decision of the ban has made the migrant people jobless. The authority should have been informed first about the ban order before its implementation. He urged for an alternate approach to the problem.

Shetty alleged that the district authority has been silent on this issue and so the sand mafia is increasing day by day. Coastal people need to benefit from their own natural resource. The cost of one sand load has reached sky level. Capitalists demand Rs 10, 000 per load. He demanded an immediate cancellation of the ban order and urged the district authority to put an end to this complication.

Ramesh Poojary, district convener, Ansar Ahmad, district chief secretary, Vikas Shetty, president of the district youth unit, Ajaruddin Subrahmanya Nagar and others were present at the protest.