The two-day padayatra from Hosnagar to Shivamogga by Truck Owners and Sand Contractors’ Association of Hosanagar taluk demanding separate sand extraction policy, concluded on Friday.
The padayatra that covered about 66 km. arrived here at about 3 p.m.
A protest meet was held on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner's office.
Haalagadde Umesh, president of the association, said in his address that a scientific sand policy should be introduced to protect the interests of truck owners and general public.As a major chunk of Hosnagar taluk had been notified as ecologically sensitive by Kasturirangan panel on conservation of Western Ghats, extraction of sand wasn’t allowed in the taluk for the past two years. Major rivers, including Sharavati, Varahi and Varada, flow through Hosanagar taluk. There was a rich deposit of sand on the banks of these rivers and their tributaries. It was feared that non-lifting of sand would lead to accumulation of silt in the reservoirs constructed across Sharavati and Varahi rivers, which would, in turn, lead to a reduction in the storage capacity of reservoirs, he said.
There were no major industries in Hosnagar taluk and more than 10,000 families living there were dependent on sand extraction and transportation for their livelihood. Denial of permission for extraction of sand had created hardships for these families. Owing to restrictions imposed on lifting of sand, its price had increased in last year. To ensure availability of sand at affordable price for common people, the government should relax the conditions imposed on granting of permission for lifting and transportation of sand. This would ensure additional revenue to the State exchequer in the form of royalty, he said.
Addressing the gathering, zilla panchayat president Kalagodu Ratnakar said that he would appraise the district administration on the need to evolve a public-friendly sand policy. Functionaries of the association Anwar Siddiq and Chikkamanathi Abhilash were present.
