Karwar sand extractors stage rasta roko

MARGAO: Sand extractors and transporters from Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka, disgusted with restrictions imposed on sand transportation to Goa, resorted to a road blockade at Mazali on the Goa-Karnataka border on Friday morning, thus paralyzing the interstate traffic for close to three hours. Around 400 protestors,including truck owners, boat owners and sand suppliers, squatted across the roadnear the Mazali check post demanding that the restrictions imposed on sandtransportation to Goa be revoked by the government. The protestorswere of the view that the ban on extraction of sand from the Kali river, wouldcreate circumstances leading to flooding of low lying areas in the area, besidesdepriving hundreds of families of their source of livelihood. Theirargument was that the Karwar sand is in good demand in South Goa forconstruction activities and the restrictions on its transportation have renderedmany jobless. Traffic came to a standstill on account of theagitation and vehicles on both sides of the border were stranded for hours, thusinconveniencing the public. Deputy commissioner, Uttar Kannadadistrict, B N Krishnaiah, rushed to the site and pacified the protestors, in thepresence of Karnataka Pradesh Congress member from Uttar Kannada, Satish Sail.Krishnaiah assured the gathering that he would strive to thrash out a solutionto the vexed issue by holding parleys with the Karnataka government authoritieswithin the next 15 days. Following the assurance, the protestorswithdrew the agitation and the road blockade that started at 9.30am was finallycleared by 12.30pm. They have however threatened to come out on the streets onceagain if their demands are not met within two weeks. "Goa is thelargest consumer of Karwar sand and the ban on sand transportation has come as abig blow to the families dependent on the sand extraction and transportationactivities. We will have no option but to take to the streets if the governmentfails to heed to our demand," one of the agitators told TOI.However, several Karwar-based organizations working for the cause ofenvironment protection have, however, supported the ban on the grounds that'excessive mining of sand from Kali river was damaging the ecology of the area'.