Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Sep 19: "New rules and measures should be formed on exported sand," demanded the leaders of different organizations in a meeting held at Sri Brahma Narayana Guru hall Bannanje here on Saturday, September 17.

M G Nagendra secretary, Building Construction, tools, Lorry owners and drivers' union addressing the press persons said, “The members have decided to hold a padayatra on Thursday, September 22 from Jodukatte to Royal garden, near Kalsanka. There after a vehicle rally will be organized to reach DC’s office Rajatadri, Manipal in order to submit a memorandum.”

The members also decided to name their union as ‘All district level unions coordinating committee against sand crises’.

The committee members demanded that district authority should call a meeting of all district MLAs, MLCs, MP including district-in-charge minister to form new sand policy for coastal region.

“District authority should allow us to participate in the meeting. A date has to be announced before meeting. The authority should take up this meeting and come to a decision at the earliest. Committee is giving one week time for all this process,” the demanded.

“Specific criteria should be made on exported sand to other districts and sand mining. A uniform price has to be fixed per unit sand, for three districts namely Mangaluru, Udupi and Uttara Kannada,” they further said. 

As many as 21 leaders from different organizations participated in the meeting.

The committee expects nearly 10,000 people to take part in rally.

Jerry Vincent Dias, president Builder’s Association, Manohar Shetty of Sairadha Builders, Ravi Shetty, district president, Karnataka Karmika Vedike's district unit, Vijaykumar Hegde of Udupi Raitha sangha,  U Sudesh Shet Bannanje, secretary, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Ashrayadata Ramesh Shetty, district president of auto union, Ranjan Kalkur, proprietor of Kalkur builders, Ansar Ahmed, Chandrika Shetty, and others were present in the meeting.