Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Sep 20: District Building and Construction Workers Association and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) members staged a protest in front of DC’s office Rajathadri, Manipal here on Thursday, September 20, demanding sand crisis to be solved on priority.

“District administration is not meant for creating problems but for solving obstacles. The public have started to revolt against the district administration. It is showing soft corner instead of taking firm decisions. The government is playing corrupt games with regard to providing sand. The construction works are completely stopped and the entire development is stuck due to unavailability of sand. There was corruption during Congress government and now BJP is continuing it,” said district secretary of CITU K Shankar.

State secretary Balakrishna Shetty lashed out that the price for three units of sand has been increased to Rs 15000 to Rs 16,000. “The district administration did not put effort to obtain court clearance. Sand crisis has hit sand extractors, builders, construction labourers and common man,” he said.

He also spoke about the vacancies in labour department. “Labour officer, Labour Inspector (circle 1) and one post in Karkala were cleared temporarily. Now the labour department related cases are getting delayed. The pension amount should be increased to Rs 3,000,” he demanded.

CITU also put forth a list of demands to be fulfilled such as:

• The district administration must take measures to get sand for Rs 2000 per unit.
• It should allow traditional boat owners to excavate sand.
• The government has to fill the vacancies in labour department.
• It should be provide loans to homeless and to those who want sites. Subsidy should be provided for construction.
• It should issue PF as declared in the 2017 State budget
• ESI facility should be provided for all construction labourers

Suresh, Vittal Pooajry, Raviraj, Shekhar Bangera and others were present.