Mangalore, September 20: Sand mining groups of three coastal districts of Karnataka have threatened a stir against the State Government's move to handover the process of sand mining to the Public Works Department.
“All the sand mining contractors, lorry owners, boat owners and workers have decided to observe a sand transportation bandh and stage a mammoth protest in front of the office of DK Deputy Commissioner on September 29, if the government did not formulate separate guidelines for the coastal districts by September 28” said the office bearers of the Joint Action Committee of sand contractors, sand boat owners, workers, and building material transporters (JAC), the Sand Transporting Lorry Owners' Association (STLOA), and the Dakshina Kannada District Sand Boat Owners and Workers' Association at a joint press conference here on Tuesday.
JAC president Mayur Ullal said despite the exclusion of the three coastal districts from the Sand Policy-2011, the PWD recently called for bids.
He said only a region specific policy would fulfil local needs of local people as far as sand mining is concerned.
Mr Ullal said that the failure on part of the state government to formulate a separate sand mining policy for Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Karwar could result in a near three-to-four-fold increase in rate of sand in these parts.
“At present, one lorry load of sand, locally classified as 'two units' and measuring around 200 cubic feet is available for Rs 3,000. This, the joint forum of organizations involved in sand trade, feels would go up to Rs 12,000” he added.
Sathyapal Rai, Jithendra Suvarna, KS Abdul Khader and Walter Lobo were present at the press meet.
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