Unions to protest demanding sand, laterite stone policy on Aug 18
Vasanth Achari, general secretary, Construction Workers Federation, Dakshina Kannada, said the rally and protest will be held to demand the govt to ensure the supply of sand and laterite stones in Dakshina Kannada.
He told reporters on Thursday, that for the past three months, construction activities in Dakshina Kannada nearly came to a halt. The authorities' actions to curb illegal laterite stone and sand extraction resulted in a shortage of raw materials for this sector.
The Karnataka state govt failed to organise legal sand mining and laterite stone quarrying. Due to the current issue, the construction sector is at a standstill as red stone and sand are unavailable in the district, he said.
"Various types of workers in this field are left without jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. Ordinary people are facing difficulties as their plans to build homes have been put on hold," Achari said.
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"Despite sufficient sand reserves, the distribution system has not been simplified, and there is a lack of interest in accessing it. The question of the livelihood of construction workers, who are already on the streets, should also be a priority," said Achari.
"A coastal sand policy should be formulated to ensure smooth and straightforward sand supply in the coastal districts. Opportunities should be provided for environmentally friendly sand mining and regulated laterite stone quarrying. Construction workers who are facing difficulties without jobs should be provided financial relief of Rs 10,000 per month," he added.
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