Permanent solution to sand crisis demanded

Centre of Indian Trade Unions state vice president K Shankar has said that the row over sand mining will continue till corruption is eliminated in the district.

He was addressing protesters at an indefinite stir organised by the Udupi District Building and Other Construction Workers' Coordination Committee in front of the DC's office in Manipal on Tuesday.

He said there is a need to eradicate corruption and find a solution to the sand crisis. The district administration and the state government are indifferent to the entire sand issue. The problem would not have persisted if the traditional sand extractors were permitted to extract sand, he said.

Shankar accused the Congress and BJP elected representatives of failing to solve the row over the sand crisis in the district. "Despite the ban on sand extraction, the illegal sand extraction continues unchecked. The non-availability of sand has affected the construction activities. Thousands of labourers are jobless. None of the officials and elected representatives raise their about on the issue," he charged.

He warned, "From CRZ areas were not used for construction purpose in the past. In spite of it, illegal sand miners are engaged in sand extraction in CRZ areas. We will have to face its consequences in the future".

He alleged that the government is not adhering to the court's guidelines on sand extraction.

The protesters demanded a permanent solution to the sand crisis in the district.

They said all those who received permits for sand extraction should extract the sand immediately and ensure the availability of sand. The government should store sand and distribute it among the citizens at a reasonable price, the protesters said and demanded that the sand extracted from the district should be utilised for the district on a priority basis.