Pics: Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 21: The indefinite stir launched by Tipper Owners Association in different taluks of the district against the failure of the district administration to solve the issue of sand shortage entered the third day.

Tipper owners joined hands with the agitators by parking their vehicles by the side of the highway at places like Kundapur, Koteshwar, Kota, Hebri, Hemmady, Belman etc. They have also warned that they will escalate their agitation by holding protest in front of the office of the deputy commissioner.

The tipper owners have been saying that because of the current sand policy, tipper owners are finding it hard to repay their loans and there have been instances in which their vehicles were auctioned off for non-repayment of loans. "Banks and financial institutions have seized several vehicles and the families have been driven to streets. The drivers have become jobless but the district administration has miserably failed in coming to the rescue of the suffering people," the association said.

While a majority of tippers have stopped functioning and supported the agitators by parking their vehicles, some continued to operate their vehicles. There were certain instances in which the agitators urged them to join hands with them, and brought their vehicles to line up by the side of the highway.