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Sand mining activities: Protest rally planned

Last Updated 12 September 2016, 19:38 IST

The people affected following a stay order on sand mining activities in the district have condemned the lackadaisical approach of the district administration in representing the stance at National Green Tribunal (NGT), Chennai, and have decided to stage a protest rally.

Raising the issue at a meeting held to discuss the probable actions if the stay order continues following the third hearing on September 13, Kattada Samagrigala Sagata Lorry Malakara Sangha District General Secretary M G Nagendra charged that the district administration has utterly failed to address the grievances of the construction workers, labourers and other people involved in the industry.

Nagendra said the laborers are jobless in the past three months. The DC has not responded to the issue. An appeal has been made to NGT on the  stay order on the illegal sand mining in Kukkadi area in Baikadi, wherein nearly 200 boats were involved in illegal sand mining.

He charged that the labourers in the district are mainly from North Karnataka region and they are returning to their places as they are jobless. They are the worst sufferers, he said.

He said the district administration in Dakshina Kannada is proactive when compared to that of Udupi. The construction activities have come to a standstill. The people’s representatives are least bothered about the hindrance for the development activities in the district, he criticised.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike District General Secretary Sandesh Bannanje said the price of the sand bags vary in both Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. He said a sand bag in Dakshina Kannada costs Rs 700, while it costs Rs 1,500 in Udupi.

Karnataka Karmika Vedike District President Ravi Shetty said the frequent ban on sand mining activities in the district has affected the construction process. The people who are dependent on the business are struggling. The district administration has failed to do any preparations to appear before the NGT on Tuesday. Even in two hearings held earlier, the case was not represented by the experienced advocates. Instead, the case was handled by an inexperienced lawyer who failed to convince the tribunal, he criticised. 

He said there is a need for continuous fight against the district administration and Mines and Geology Department.

Builders Jerry Vincent Dias and Manohar Shetty raised objections about giving way the sand collected in the district to other districts.

They said the sand can be transported to other districts only after the requirement of the district is met. Increasing corruption in the business and the black market has created vacuum in the trade, the stated.

The builders also demanded  a be separate sand policy for coastal districts.
Zilla Raitha Sangha President Vijay Kumar Hegde said the environment is polluted as the increasing sand accumulation in the areas has its worst affect on CRZ and non-CRZ area. Sand should be excavated to certain level to maintain the balance. Udupi has become an experimental district for all ventures of the government, he said.

The participants also decided to stage a huge protest rally against the district administration if the stay order is not withdrawn in the third hearing to be held on Tuesday.

They would also call a district bandh and march to the DC’s office in Manipal.
All people connected to the construction business would assemble and take part in the protest. Nearly 3,000 to 4,000 people would join the protest.
 

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(Published 12 September 2016, 19:38 IST)

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