Building workers cry for attention in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Building workers across the district launched hunger strike at NGO's home premises protesting the government's failure in supply of sand. Workers from various parts of the district turned up in large numbers for the agitation held under the aegis of Building Workers District Union and Center for Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

Building Workers Union's district general secretary M Adinarayana Murthy, CITU leaders D Govinda Rao and M Tirupathi Rao and others came down heavily on the government for its failure in supply of sand.

Even after four months of ban on free sand policy, the government is still unable to supply sand to the needy people, they alleged. Due to scarcity of sand, they said the construction works came to a halt for the last four months and workers lost their livelihood and unable to feed their families. In addition to government's strict guidelines on sand mining, the RTA officials are also obstructing supply of sand on flimsy reasons even for local needs, they pointed out.

Even though the government identified 12 reaches in Srikakulam district in both Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers, the sand mining was not yet restored, CITU leaders said. Sand storage points, approach roads for transportation of sand and vehicles engagement process were not yet initiated, they alleged.

They demanded the government to restore the supply of sand as it is linked with the livelihood and employment of lakhs of workers.