JOIN USAllow us to transport sand in bullock carts, demand farmers
Residents from villages in the taluk gathered with cattle and bullock carts outside the Mini Vidhana Soudha on Saturday, demanding permit to transport sand in the carts.
T A Hanumantharaya, the tahsildar, and Malleshaiah, PWD officer, had prohibited the unlicensed transport of sand from the Kottapalli tank in bullock carts.
The tank, situated on the outskirts of Bagepalli town, is a favourite haunt of residents of many villages, who transport sand to construction sites in cities using bullock carts. The government, however, had instructed that the sand collected at different places all over the taluk should be piled up in front of the PWD.
The protesters requested that they be allowed to carry sand in the carts. They warned of a protest outside the taluk office if the officers failed to respond.
‘No farming’
“The pre-monsoon showers have failed and there is no water for agriculture. We also have no cattle-feed or farmhands,” Jilakarapalli Narayana Reddy said, speaking to Deccan Herald.
“Sand was being transported in the bullock carts to different house and other construction sites in urban areas. This is the last use we have for our twin bullocks or the bullock carts,” he explained.
J N Anand Kumar, PSI, who arrived outside the Mini Vidhana Soudha, listened to the complaints of the protesters and promised them to speak to the superior officers to solve the matter.
Pacified, the protesters withdrew from the place.