Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP/HB)

Udupi, Jan 29: The indefinite sit in protests by Maralu Horata Samithi here continued for second day on January 29.

MLA Raghupathi Bhat said that the administration is collapsing. “Construction labourers and workers have lost jobs.”

The association of boat workers belonging to Udupi district scheduled caste and scheduled tribe near the venue of the protests also demanded permission for sand mining. They shouted slogans against Udupi MLA.

The protesters demanded that sand mining should be allowed under CRZ. Sand is not available as Byndoor is identified as eco sensitive.

State minister of mines and geology Rajashekar B Patil who visited the place of sand mounds in Suvarna river and had come for the meeting in DC’s office visited the spot of protests. The protesters complained to him that the DC is exploiting them imposing 25-30 lacs fine on Lorries transporting stones and rock and sincere officers are transferred. They urged to transfer the current DC.

The minister assured that he will try to solve sand problem in Mangaluru and Udupi as soon as possible. “The decision will be taken in a meeting held in the leadership of deputy chief minister. There should be changes in sand policy. We intend to supply sufficient sand at cheap rates.”

Builders association president Jerry Vincent Dias, Haladi Srinivas Shetty, Byndoor MLA Sukumar Shetty, Lorry owners and drivers association’s Pravin Suvarna, Raghavendra Shetty, Sharath Shetty, Gunaker Shetty, Annayya Nayak and engineer association members were present.