Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Nov 5: Taluk building and other construction labourers' union held a foot march from Kundapur to the residence of MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty and submitted an appeal to begin sand extraction from rivers, where there is opportunity for removal of sand.
Speaking after receiving the appeal, MLA Halady Shetty said, "The sand issue is bothering the people of the district. Several attempts have been made to resolve this issue. I have fought from the time when Dr V S Acharya was the minister to start sand extraction. I have raised my voice in various meetings that are held in connection with sand mining in favour of poor people and labourers.
"I am making all efforts to see that all get sand at reasonable rate. Already at some places sand is available. People can make use of the same. I will discuss with the government on the basis of the appeal that you have submitted and make an attempt to start sand extraction in places where the sand mining is still not started."
In their appeal, the protesters mentioned that the poor labourers working in building and other construction projects of the district are suffering since last four years due to shortage of sand. Though the union has conducted several protests in the past to pressurize the government to resolve the issue, the matter is still not looked into. District in-charge minister Basavaraj Bommai assured during his visit to Udupi district on September 27 that the sand mining will start before October 15. But nothing has materialized till now. So they requested the MLA to put pressure on the government and allow the public to start sand extraction.
More than 2,000 labourers from 60 village units of the union of the taluk took part in the protest march. Kundapur taluk building and other construction labourers' union leaders U Dasa Bhandary, chief secretary Balakrishna Shetty, secretary Suresh Kallagara, H Narasimha, Mahabala Vaderahobali, Santhosha Hemmadi, Ramesha Gulvadi and Aruna Gangolli were present.