Udupi: The Udupi District Building Material Transport Lorry-Tempo Owners’ Association has alleged that large quantities of M-sand are being illegally transported from Udupi district to Kerala, causing an artificial shortage of the construction material and driving up prices in the local market.
Addressing a press conference at the Udupi Press Club on Monday, association General Secretary Raghavendra Shetty accused officials of the Department of Mines and Geology and the district administration of failing to prevent the alleged illegal transportation. He also alleged that certain officials were colluding with stone crusher unit owners, allowing the movement of M-sand to continue despite strong local demand.
The association claimed that the alleged practice was affecting construction costs for residents and reducing business opportunities for local lorry owners and drivers.
Alleged shortage pushes up construction costs
Shetty said Udupi has a substantial demand for M-sand, which is widely used as an alternative to natural river sand in construction. However, he alleged that crusher unit owners and those holding agreements with them were transporting large quantities of gravel M-sand to Kerala in heavy vehicles, leaving less material available for local buyers.
According to him, the movement of M-sand out of the district has contributed to an artificial scarcity, allowing suppliers to charge higher prices.
He also expressed concern over the rising cost of other construction materials, including gravel, rubble and red stone. Shetty alleged that crusher unit owners were fixing prices arbitrarily, placing an additional financial burden on people planning to build homes.
He said construction had become increasingly expensive for middle-class families, who were already struggling to manage rising material costs.
The association further pointed to the high cost of sand, which Shetty attributed partly to the use of high-tech mining methods permitted by the district administration. He argued that the availability and pricing of essential construction materials required closer scrutiny to protect consumers and ensure fair access for local buyers.
Lorries allegedly moving towards Kerala
Shetty claimed that lorries carrying M-sand were regularly travelling towards Kerala through Padubidri and Mangaluru. He identified Bellannu, Nandikoor and Belle as some of the areas from which the material was allegedly being transported.
He questioned why the authorities had not taken effective steps to check the movement of the vehicles despite the alleged regularity of the operations.
Shetty also highlighted what he described as unequal treatment of transport operators. According to him, local lorry owners transporting sand within Udupi district in accordance with the rules faced harassment from officials and some mining contractors, while the alleged movement of M-sand to Kerala continued without adequate intervention.
He called for the authorities to investigate the allegations, verify the permits and documentation associated with the transportation of M-sand, and take appropriate action wherever violations are established.
The allegations made at the press conference have not been independently verified. No response from the Department of Mines and Geology or the district administration was included in the information provided by the association.
Association announces dharna
Warning that continued illegal transportation of construction materials could accelerate the depletion of natural resources, Shetty said the association would step up its protest if the authorities failed to address the issue.
He announced a dharna satyagraha in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office next week. The protest is expected to involve several organisations joining hands with the Lorry-Tempo Owners’ Association to demand action against the alleged illegal trade and greater accountability from the authorities.
The association is seeking intervention to regulate the movement of M-sand, improve its availability within Udupi district and address what it considers unfair practices affecting local transport operators and consumers.
The proposed protest is also intended to draw attention to the broader concerns surrounding the extraction, transportation and pricing of construction materials in the coastal district.
Harish Shetty Katapadi, president of the Udupi District Building Material Transport Lorry-Tempo Owners’ Association, and members Ramesh Shetty Herga, Ravindra Palan and Abdul Razak were present at the press conference.
The association’s allegations place the spotlight on the need for the concerned authorities to examine the claims, establish whether transportation rules are being violated and ensure that construction materials are supplied and priced in accordance with applicable regulations.