Civil engineers, labourers gherao MLAs house in Chikmagalur

 Civil engineers, contractors and building workers gheraoed and staged a protest in front of the houses of MLA C T Ravi and MLC Gayatri Shante Gowda, demanding to solve row over shortage of sand on Saturday.

Following the protest in front of C T Ravi’s house, the MLA convened a meeting with them. Engineer Nagendra said that the sand mining policy which has not been implemented anywhere in the State, has been implemented only in Chikmagalur district. Over 2,000 works have been halted due to unavailability of sand  and over 20,000 daily wage labourers who are dependent on construction industry for their livelihood have come to streets.
 “Either give us sand for construction or we will prevent the foundation laying programmes of the district administration, PWD, City Municipal Council and Chikmagalur Urban Development Authority,” he warned. Further, he alleged the deputy commissioner of not making attempts to find a permanent solution to the problem despite submitting memorandum several times. The DC cites the reason of rain as an obstacle for permitting sand extraction. If at all he identifies the sand block and gives permission to extract sand just for a day, we would  transport 100 loads of sand to the DC’s office, he challenged.

MLA C T Ravi immediately called the DC and asked him to allow the transportation of sand from other districts. Sand carrying vehicles should not be stopped, he said.

Later the protesters gheraoed the house of MLC Gayatri Shante Gowda, requesting to solve the issue. Accepting the memorandum, district Congress Vice President Shante Gowda said that the issue will be sorted out at a meeting at the DC’s office on September 29.