Builders say construction sand truckers' stir will hit industry.
Sand lorry owners’ ongoing strike, which shows no signs of ending, is set to have a serious impact on construction activity in Karnataka in the New year, if representatives of the industry are to be believed.
“I think the New Year will be a bad year for construction industry and thousands of people who depend on construction industry if the government fails to resolve the issue,’’ said R Nagaraja Reddy, president, CREDAI, Karnataka. Suresh Hari, secretary, CREDAI, Bengaluru, echoed Reddy’s view.
Around 20,000 sand lorry owners across the state are on an indefinite strike for the last three days opposing the government’s policy on extraction of sand which is a critical component in construction.
According to GR Shanmugappa, president, Karnataka State lorry owners’ and agents’ association, the state government’s sand policy dealt solely with sand extraction, and not supply of sand. He said sand transporters were demanding that the government issue permits for transporting sand. “We want the government to issue monthly permits for sand lorry owners. We are ready to pay the fee to the government if the authorities issue monthly permits,’’ he said.
“Around 600 lorry drivers have been arrested across the state during the last few days on charge of transporting sand illegally. Of them, 40 have been imprisoned,’’ said Shanmugappa.
With the existing sand stocks expected to last a week, construction activities are set to come to a grinding halt if the state government fails to find an amicable solution to the strike soon.
The strike has pushed up the price of sand, with a truck load costing Rs 35,000-Rs 38,000.
Prices are expected to go rise further if the strike continues for a few more days. The strike has provided windfall gains for dealers who had stocked the commodity, and has hit hard the middle class families building own houses.
“No one is ready to supply sand due to the strike by the sand lorry owners. I have to depend on a tractor for transportation of sand. Suppliers are exploiting the situation by raising the prices arbitrarily,” said Rajesh N, who is constructing a house in Nagavarapalya.
With Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs TB Jayachandra announcing that transporting of sand without permit is a cognizable offence, most of the truck divers are averse to join duty.
Construction contractors are dreading the continuance of the strike. Even if the strike continues for a few more days, with Pongal approaching, it will be difficult for them to find workers, most of them from Tamil Nadu, who return to their home towns and village for the harvest festival.
On an average, Bangalore requires about 3,000 loads of sand per day and 15,000 loads across the state. “Around 300 permits have been issued by the government as against the actual demand. The gap is filled through illegal movement of sand. Sand is being supplied to Kerala from Chamarajanagar, Kollegal and Mysore for premium,” Shanmugappa said.
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