Mysuru | Jul 31, 2015: Hundreds of daily wage labourers, working in the construction sector, staged a protest demonstration against the shortage in supply of sand in the on Thursday.
The daily wage labourers, who took out a rally to the Deputy Commissioner’s office under the auspices of Basaveshwara Kattada Nirmana Kooli Karmikara Sangha, urged the authorities concerned to either address the issue at the earliest or devise a programme for them too on the lines of ‘Kooligagi Kaalu’ scheme. Following a ban on sand mining, there is a shortage in supply of sand in the district. It is having a cascading effect on the construction industry, leaving most of the works incomplete. The daily wage labourers, who are largely dependent on the industry, have been rendered jobless, they poured out woes.
The protesters alleged that the government’s sand policy is unscientific. Moreover, the policy lacks vigour to rein in illegal sand mining. Though the authorities concerned are aware of such activities, they have turned a blind-eye towards the issue. The sufferer is the daily wage labourer and his or her dependents, they claimed. The rally, launched near Kote Anjaneya Swamy temple, Mysuru Palace North Gate, passed through Dodda Gadiyaara, Gandhi Square, Devaraja Urs Road and Metropole Circle before culminating at the DC’s office.
Corporator and leader of the ruling party in the City Corporation K T Cheluvegowda, Corporators K V Mallesh and Shivanna, Sangha President Suresh and General Secretary Nagendra took part in the protest.
Permit sought
In another protest, the members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Swabhimani faction) urged the authorities to permit sand mining. The protesters alleged that though the district administration has permitted mining on patta lands, the officials of the Mines and Geology department have failed to implement it in toto. Such officials should be either transferred and or directed to identify patta lands and convince farmers to consent for mining. But, the officials are indulged in threatening the farmers, Vedike President M Shivappa Gowda alleged.
(Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/)