Sand policy to safeguard interest of construction workers sought

Members of Communist Party of India (CPI) and Construction Workers’ Association on Thursday staged a protest demanding a sand policy to safeguard the livelihood of construction workers.

J Raghu, president of Construction Workers’ Association, district unit, said, “The life of construction workers who were largely dependent on the same for their living has become miserable following the sand scarcity. It has also forced the people who were building their houses to stop construction works midway. The district administration has failed in meeting the demand for sand.”

Housing schemes hit

Raghu said, following the lack of sand, houses being built under several housing schemes like Ashraya, Ambedkar, Indira Awas have also remained incomplete. As a result, the money released towards the same has lapsed, he said.

Raghu said that illegal sand trade has been going on unabated, owing to the “blessings” of elected representatives who have been helping their loyalists involved in the racket to sell crushed stone and also manaufactured sand (M-sand).

CPI district unit secretary H M Renukaradhya, taluk unit secretary George Austin, general secretary of Construction Workers’ Association A Jaykumar were present.