Signalling an end to their tussle with the State government, the sand transporters called off their 15-day strike on Wednesday.
Members of Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Associations said the decision was taken after fresh interactions with Home Minister M P Prakash, Transport Minister Cheluvarayaswamy and Additional DGP (Law and Order) Shankar Bidri.
Federation president G R Shanmugappa and secretary B V Narayanappa said the strike was called off after the government gave the truckers a consent on their demands, in writing.
As per the agreement, sand excavation will be prohibited in select areas, including schools, places of worship, bridges and graveyards.
With the agreement in place, the government has also addressed a major demand of the truckers: a return to the permit system. Now, truckers can obtain an authentic permit by paying a royalty of Rs 50 per load for transporting two loads and above. The sand loaded in trucks should not exceed three feet in height, the agreement said.
The government also assured the truckers that police would be advised against unduly harassing the transporters. The Federation was all set to cover essential supplies under the strike from Thursday, when the compromise deal was struck with the government.