Shortage of sand hits government projects in districts

The government, which has stopped liberal issue of sand permits owing to environmental concerns, has not streamlined the process either, keeping transportation lorries off the roads and now their owners are threatening to resume their state-wide strike that was called off in January after talks, unless it comes to their rescue.

With the price of sand shooting through the roof, the Public Works Department and Karnataka Land Army Development Corporation Ltd (KLAC) have suspended a number of construction projects.

“There is severe scarcity of sand in our district and so we have stopped various schemes like Suvarna Gram Yojane, construction of hostels, community halls, and anganwadi centres.

“The sand problem has paralysed developmental work. But demarcation of sand deposits and environmental clearance is underway as the government has imposed restrictions on sand extraction,” said Bagalkot district KLAC deputy director, R G Gaddad.

Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners’ and Agents Association president, G R Shanmugappa however accuses the government of pandering to some politicians who are against issue of permits for extraction of sand.

“The government is deliberately not auctioning the sand to help these politicians make money from illegal transportation,” he charged, warning that the federation could resume its strike soon if the permits were not issued.

“There are 1,296 sand deposit points across the state and Karnataka requires at least 10,000 loads of sand every day. But the government is issuing permits for only 1,000 loads so that the remaining quantity can be supplied illegally.

“We will launch a state-wide agitation if the Chief Minister fails to resolve this problem immediately,” he asserted.