Civil Contractors Association to Stage Protest against Non-Availability of Sand in D K
Mangaluru: Civil Contractors’ Association (CCA) President M Purushotham Kottary addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangaluru Press Club said, “The total collapse of arrangement to book sand using ‘DK Sand Bazaar’ App has hit contractors hard. And also that the Sand that was available for Rs 30/cubic feet or Rs 6,000 per truckload of 200 cu.ft is now ‘available’ in the black market upwards of Rs 10,000 per truckload. Continuing confusion over mining of sand in CRZ/ non-CRZ areas has only added to the present chaos”.
He further said, “Hit by the non-availability of sand for construction for the past 10 months, Our Association is contemplating to stage a protest in the nearest future, to settle this pending issue. With elected representatives and authorities giving lip sympathy to the issue, the stage has come for CAA members to raise their voice in the best interest of stakeholders. Elected representatives and the district authorities have been promising on addressing the issue for the past 10 months, but there has been no action until this day. With the pandemic forcing the majority of labourers from Northern states of India to return to their home states and non-availability of sand a persistent problem, contractors are not able to meet their licence condition on project completion.”
Also speaking during the press meet, Dinker Suvarna, the Vice President of CAA said, “The Contractors are facing the heat of delays in construction from RERA, the regulator that imposes monetary fines for default. We have been consistently appealing to all those concerned — right from the district minister In-charge Kota Srinivas Poojary, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA Vedavyas Kamath, and also DK Deputy Commissioner Dr Rajendra — to address the issue, and we are happy to note that members from the realty sectors like CREDAI, ACCE (I), Kanara Builders’ Association have joined with us in this issue”.
