Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Mar 28: Opposing the unavailability of sand and condemning the failure of the district administration to form a sand policy, the JD (S) district unit led by its youth wing on Monday March 28 staged a protest along with sand workers at Nehru Maidan football ground here.

Addressing the protest, district president of JD(S) youth wing Akshith Suvarna alleged that the deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim was 'responsible' for the woes of the sand workers. "Due to the prohibition of sand mining in the district, thousands of families of sand workers have come to road. From a month they are struggling to make ends meet. The deputy commissioner and the district in-charge minister are responsible for their condition. If they cannot make sand available for the poor and implement a sand policy, they can resign from their posts and let other capable persons do it.

"So many poor families are struggling to build their houses due to the unavailability of sand. We urge the district administration to start sand distribution immediately," he added.

JD(S) district secretary Vasanth Poojary said, "Sand mining in the district had been going on from many years and no one had any problem. Now the sand mafia has made it unavailable for the people of this district. What is the district administration doing in this regard? The day is not too far when people might picket the DC's office demanding sand."

The district president of JD(S) Mohammed Kunhi said "The sand mafia is more corrupt than than the mines mafia. Both the present in-charge minister Ramanath Rai and the then in-charge minister Krishna Palemar have their hidden hand in the mafia. Hence none of them are coming forward to find the solution. The district administration and the state government inactive and we might get the days when the sand will be distributed on the basis of APL and BPL. Even BJP members are involved in the mafia and hence do not have the moral right to protest against the mafia. I allege that the deputy commissioner Ibrahim too is involved with the sand mafia."

Incidentally, sources said that that there was no permission to line up tipper lorries that were brought to the protest in Nehru Maidan football ground, as the ground is maintained by the district Football Association and is used by football players daily for their regular practice. However, president of the Football Association later confirmed that the permission had indeed been sought.

The protesters later on marched towards the DC's office in a procession along with the lorries and submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.