Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Jul 20: CITU conducted protest demanding the supply of sand for construction works here at DC office on July 20.

CITU district secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said "Today the construction is in difficulty as the shortage of sand has arisen in the city. Ban has been imposed on sand mining by district administration. They give reason that supreme Court has directed the ban on sand mining because that affects the water creatures. This ban has resulted in unemployment to construction workers. As sand is major raw material, the demand for sand which was available at Rs 2,500 has gone up to Rs 13,000.
Overnight there has been increase in sand price. Today on one hand they show law and say ban but on the other hand there is availability of sand."

"There is a sand mafia through which sand is going to other states. This mafia is controlling the district administration. They are mining sand with the machine.

Supreme court has directed the ban on machine sand mining. There is no trouble by doing traditional sand mining. Permission should be given to the traditional sand minning. The sand which is mined is not given to the locals but sent to other districts for lacs of rupees. Construction workers are in difficulty without work. Where is the district administration ? Where are the ministers ? All the 3 ministers of our district are behind this sand mining. If not why they are not talking? Previous district in charge minister J Krishna Palemar protected the sand miners. Current congress government is also continuing the same."Sunil Kumar Bajal added.

PWFI district secretary Yogish Jeppinamogaru said "In this district from past one and half month construction workers are in difficulty. We are all aware of this fact.

Even district minister knows this fact. Deputy commissioner said none of the sand is going to other states or district as he has directed the police to check sand minning. But from past two or three years mining was happening through dozzer. We have given memorandum to the DC many times. One of BJP's sand mining leader talking on a tv channel said that even if sand mining is allowed, they will not sell the sand at the previous rate. They will charge Rs 5000. Where is member of parliment Naleen Kumar Kateel? Even he is not interested to talk on this issue. DC had promised to call meeting on this sand issue but has not called any meeting until now. If this problem is not solved we will hold a gerrao and hold black flags to the ministers when they visit Mangaluru."

Dinakar Suvarna, vice president, civil contractors association, devanad, secretary, civil contractors association and others were present.