JOIN USMembers of Udupi District Building and Other Construction Workers’ Joint Action Committee began an indefinite strike demanding a solution to their problems, mainly the shortage of sand, in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Manipal on Monday.
The workers said that there was a dearth of sand for construction works, from the past few months in the district. The district administration lifted the ban on marine sand mining, but most of the builders use the sand from fresh water. The government is also delaying the process to invite tender in the name of forming the sand policy. Misusing the situation, a few sand sellers have doubled the price of the sand, they alleged.
CITU District Secretary Balakrishna Shetty said “During BJP tenure the State suffered from mining mafia and now from Congress’s sand mafia. Law Minister T B Jayachandra never commented on the allegations of his son being part of the sand mafia.”
District In-charge Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake had promised that he would solve the sand problem within a week after discussing the issue with the deputy commissioner. But, he could not meet his promise even after two weeks.
Builders Association Secretary Suresh Kallagara, Committee president U Dasa Bhandary were present among others.