Sand -truck Operators Threaten Indefinite Strike from Monday Midnight
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Dec 6: Builders beware. Don’t execute plans for construction activities for some more time as the truck operators transporting sand, an essential ingredient in all building and construction activities, have threatened to launch an indefinite strike all over Karnataka from Monday (December 7) midnight.

The threat assumes dangerous overtones as the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP government has refused to concede any of the demands of the truck owners and operators engaged in transporting sand.

The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners’  and Agents Associations has decided to launch indefinite strike to press for renewal of permits for sand transportation and to resolve issues relating to sand extraction.

But transport minister R Ashok, who held a special news conference on Sunday, said the government would not succumb to the pressure tactics of truck owners and ruled out holding any talks with them as it was pointless to negotiate with them.

The minister said the Government had so far held 16 rounds of talks with truck owners. They seem to be sticking to ``unreasonable’’ demands and holding out threats of launching strike to browbeat the government. ``Many of them (truck ooperators) have indulged illegal sand mining by violating all environmental norms,’’ he said.

Ashok said elected representatives and farmers of Kolar, Chickaballapur and Chamararajanagar districts were opposing sand extraction on the grounds that it had caused damage to their farm fields as well bridges and roads.

It was alleged that earthmovers were being used to extract sand and it was being extracted even from river beds. ``Sand extraction would be allowed only under certain conditions,’’ the minister asserted.

A recent amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act has divested the police of the powers of checking or registering cases against vehicles carrying excess load. But lorries transporting sand in excess of the 10 tonnes were being permitted. It was the duty of the police to register cases against violators of the law, he said asking, ``Why lorry owners are extracting sand places only from near Bangalore.’’

The Mines and Geology Department officials have identified a few locations for sand extraction but lorry owners continued to flout rules and extract sand from places where it was banned. The Government would take stern action against all those who extract sand illegally, he warned.

But Federation president G R Shanmugappa said the government was not renewing permits for the sand lorries and alleged that officials of the Police and Transport departments were been harassing them.

According to him, some 32,000 lorries transporting sand across the State will participate in the strike. Though the transport sector had struck operations 16 times during the last seven years, he said the demands had not been met.

"We are firm in our resolve to go ahead with the strike. The government alone is responsible for this situation,’’ he said.

NO REDUCTION IN PENALTY FOR AKRAMA-SAKRAMA REGULARISATION:

Meanwhile, Ashok, who is also Bangalore urban district in-charge minister, ruled outnot slash penalty fixed under the Akrama-Sakrama scheme for regularisation of unauthorised housing layouts and violations in building bylaws.

He said there was no substance in allegations made by the Congress leaders that the government had fixed exorbitant penalty for regularisation of unauthorised constructions. The penalty fixed by the Government was less than 50 per cent compared to the penalty fixed by the previous governments, he claimed.

Congress Opposition leader in the Legislative Council V S Ugrappa termed the penalty fixed by the Government as ``unscientific’’ and demanded 50 per cent reduction in the penalty.

The exact amount of penalty will be known only after drafting of rules for violation of building bylaws. The penalty will be collected from owners of unauthorised constructions only after notification of rules, which would take at least three months, the minister said.

The penalty will be Rs 45,000 and Rs 30,000 for sites measuring 20x30 ft in zone A and B, Rs 60,000 and Rs 90,000 for sites measuring 30x40 ft and Rs 1.8 lakh and Rs 2.1 lakh for sites measuring 60x40 ft, he added.