Sand mining: Forum plans to take out protest rally in Udupi

Following the postponement of the hearing of the stay order on sand mining activities in the district at National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chennai to October1, the affected people have decided to stage a massive protest rally on September 22.

Kattada Samagrigala Sagata Lorry Malakara Sangha’s District General Secretary M G Nagendra told mediapersons that protest rally would begin at Jodukatte and a march would be taken out. The march will conclude at Royal Garden and from there, the agitators would go to the DC’s Office in vehicles to express their dissatisfaction and condemn the lackadaisical approach of the district administration towards representing the stance at the NGT. He said the district administration should immediately convene the meeting within a week to formulate the sand policy.

 He said that there were two objection cases in non-CRZ area and the applicants had assured to take back the cases. However, they have not withdrawn the cases. He added that the Sangha would request them to withdraw the cases against sand mining in non-CRZ area. He added the district administration should frame rules and regulations for exporting sand to the neighbouring districts and states. There should also be a uniform price chart for the sand bags in the coastal district.

He also sought a separate sand mining policy for the coastal districts. He said 21 committees that are affected by the stay order have joined hands to form Sarva Sanghatanegala Zilla Mattada Maralu Horata Sanchalana Samithi to fight against the injustice. Nearly 10,000 people are expected to take part in the rally, he claimed.