Stone quarrying comes to a halt in Udupi district, says Karkala MLA

Stone quarrying halted in Udupi district, impacting construction industry and employment rights, as government stops issuing permits.

Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar said on Monday that stone quarrying of all types has come to a halt in Udupi district, which has affected the construction industry and labourers’ employment.

He said in a statement that the State government has stopped renewing quarrying permits and is not issuing new ones. Hence the employment rights of people have been taken away.

The MLA alleged that the government is making police to seize lorries and other four-wheelers involved in the transportation of laterite stones, gravels, sand and other types of stones need by the construction industry.

As all types of stone quarrying have been stopped many labourers have lost jobs. There is a shortage of construction materials for roads, buildings and house repairs. The local economy has also been hit. Labourers are facing a dearth of money to pay tuition fees of their children as schools and colleges are set to begin, the MLA said.

The MLA criticised that the district in-charge Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar only makes a guest appearance in Udupi and does not address the issues of people. The government has failed to understand the woes of people, he said.