Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that the indefinite stoppage of stone mining and quarrying activities by quarry and crusher owners had severely hurt the livelihood of construction lorry and tipper drivers and labourers, the Mysuru District Lorry and Tipper Drivers Welfare Association has called for Government’s intervention to resolve the row and thus enable resumption of stone quarrying and crushing activities, which have been halted for the past 15 days.

Addressing a press meet here recently, Association President N. Rajendra said, construction lorry and tipper drivers and as well as labourers are left jobless as the stone quarry and crusher owners are on an indefinite strike seeking fulfilment of their demands which chiefly included suspension of royalty collection and amendment to Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules (KMMCR)-1994, among others.

Pointing out that M-sand, stones, boulders  and other such construction material transporters and loaders and also builders are facing a lot of hardship due to the indefinite strike that commenced on Dec. 21, he said that Government intervention can help in resolving the crisis.

Noting that the Government should look at other legal means  for sand mining if the strike continues further, he said that the lorry owners and drivers will be left with no alternative other than returning their licence and vehicle documents to the Government.

Association office-bearers  K.P. Nagaraj, K.M. Nagachandra, Srinivas, Mahadevaswamy and P.S. Mahadev were present at the press meet.