Construction activity in the city came to a standstill on Monday as hundreds of construction workers staged a protest, highlighting the severe shortage of laterite stones and sand that has crippled the building sector.
Braving heavy rains, the workers, led by CITU and AITUC unions, marched from Ambedkar Circle to Clock Tower, where a massive protest meeting was held. Raising slogans against the district administration, state government, and local representatives, they accused authorities of ignoring the crisis that has left thousands of labourers without steady work.
Protesters emphasized that the scarcity of construction materials has directly impacted the livelihoods of daily-wage workers. “Without sand and laterite stones, construction projects are stalled, and we are losing our only source of income,” they said, demanding immediate intervention.
Union leaders, including Yadav Shetty, Vasanth Achari, Karunakar, Ravuchandra, Janardhan Kuthar, and Keshav Bangera, addressed the gathering. They warned that if the issue continues, the construction sector could face long-term setbacks, affecting not just workers but also contractors, suppliers, and housing projects across the district.
The leaders urged the government to take urgent steps to regularize supply, streamline permits for quarrying and transportation, and crack down on illegal hoarding of raw materials. They also demanded a transparent pricing mechanism to prevent exploitation by middlemen.
The protest concluded with a call for the authorities to act swiftly, as workers vowed to intensify their agitation if their demands are not met.