Sand contractors protest against mining restrictions

 
The procession which started from Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple premises passed through main roads of the city and culminated at Deputy Commissioner’s office where they submitted a memorandum to revenue authorities.

They contended that sand auction was taking place at more than 40 places in the district out of which 10 are in T Narasipur, eight in Nanjangud, eight in K R Nagar and three in Hunsur. However, sand mining has been stopped due to non-renewal of license. The Department of Mines and Geology had issued license only for one year and now it is not being renewed. This attitude of Mines and Geology Department has badly hit transportation business. Crew of hundreds of trucks are depending upon sand business for their livelihood. Renewal of license once in three years is the need of the hour, they said.

Harassment

The association leader said that the State government is harassing sand suppliers and sand contractors. None of the demands put forth by them have been met, hence the protest has been inevitable for them. There are more than 1,500 lorries that transport sand and other construction materials in the district and these vehicles had remained off the road since Monday.

The protest would be intensified in phases till fulfilment of their demands. District Sand Contractors Association president Arun Kumara and others led the agitation. They raised slogans against the State government and district administration.