Contractors in Dakshina Kannada warn stir over shortage of building materials

MANGALURU: Members of Civil Contractors’ Association (CCA, Mangaluru) said that contractors in Dakshina Kannada district have been inconvenienced due to the ongoing indefinite protest by Federation of Karnataka Quarry and Stone Associations (FKQSA), who have stopped operations in all stone-crushing and quarry units for the past two weeks.
CCA Mangaluru president Mahabala Kottary told reporters here on Monday that non-availability of crusher gravel for the last 15 days has affected the ongoing construction works. “Association members, who are engaged in the construction of residential buildings, commercial complexes and other construction activities in and around Mangaluru, are in distress. The disruption in the supply of raw materials like sand, laterite stones, and gravel has already affected the construction activities. With the ongoing indefinite stir by the crusher units, the availability of gravel has been fully stopped. We are unable to take up work and provide employment to labourers,” he said.
He pointed out that thousands of labourers from the district and outside depend only on the construction industry to eke out their living. With the construction activities coming to a halt due to the non- availability of raw materials, their life has turned miserable.
“The association has urged the state government to solve the issue related to quarry owners in the state who are engaged indefinite stir against the heavy royalty being collected by the government,” he said, and warned that the association members, along with labourers, will stage a protest in Mangaluru if the government fails to solve the issue.
The association will soon submit a memorandum to the district administration highlighting the problems faced by them, he said, adding an increase in price of cement has affected the industry in a bad way.