Members of the Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation observed a day-long fast on Thursday protesting ‘second sales’ of sand through private stockyards outside the approved quarries.
The federation alleged that the loading contractor vested with the task of loading sand on lorries at approved quarries on the Cauvery and Coleroon rivers in Tiruchi and Karur were forcing lorry operators to lift sand from stockyards functioning outside the quarries.
“The loading contractors are transporting sand from the quarries to stockyards functioning outside the river. They are forcing lorry owners to lift four units of sand at Rs.4,500 (against the government rate of Rs.1,000 for two units) from the stockyards.
Stockyards have been opened at Erode, Dindigul, Theni and Sivagangai. We are only being issued sales slips without indicating the price. The sales slips are not accepted by Transport and Police officials who book the lorries on the charge of overloading,” said Sella. Rajamani, president of the federation.
Mr.Rajamani presided over the fast in which lorry owners from various districts participated. Insisting that the agitation was not against the government, he said the federation only wanted the government ban second sales through private stockyards. The federation urged the government to ensure that the Public Works Department received payment in the form of demand drafts from sand lorry operators and lorries were not forced to carry overloads.
It also requested the government to open more sand quarries to tide over the shortage and suggested setting up of a sand Corporation to prevent irregularities in sand mining.
