Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Lorryowners go on flash strike

By S. Shivakumar

CHENNAI June 17. Construction activity in Chennai was crippled today with lorryowners resorting to a sudden strike protesting against the steep increase in the price of sand from Rs.550 to 1050, at the quarry point.

The price hike, which came into effect from today, has drawn angry protests from lorryowners, as ``it has no official sanction''.

Everyday, about 3,000 lorry loads of sand is brought to the city from the neighbouring districts to cater for the building activity.

The issue is bound to have larger ramifications as lorryowners have threatened to go on an indefinite strike unless the Government intervenes and reverses the price hike, which only benefits those controlling the quarries.

The lorryowners have sought the intervention of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, as they charged that while those who controlled the quarries paid only Rs.130 to the department of mines and minerals, they made huge profits. Despite several representations to the authorities concerned for enforcement of the rates by the trade, there was no favourable response from the Government.

Apart from the State exchequer losing crores of rupees everyday, indiscriminate digging has led to environmental damage along riverbeds. A few years ago the Kortalaiyar Bridge collapsed on the GNT Road because of large-scale removal of river sand.

Enquiries with lorryowners reveal that while the illegal sand trade flourished under a special rule during 1991 to 1996, and was controlled by ruling party functionaries, when the DMK came to power, a powerful DMK functionary from South Chennai took control of the trade.

Now, with the AIADMK returning to power, it has again changed hands. Lorryowners allege that those claiming ruling party support are controlling several quarries along the Palar bed. The quarrying operations are covered by court orders and this is cited for not taking action.

The poor regulation of the trade, which involves low investment but huge profit, is marked by isolated attempts by some conscientious officers to check illegal activity. Those operating a sand racket attacked a former DRO of Kancheepuram, and police did not pursue the accused. Another young woman IAS officer had also waged a battle against those involved in the illegal trade.

The cost per lorry load varies from Rs.2000 to Rs.2200 or less depending upon the distance. Lorryowners claimed that they would make an average profit of Rs.500 per load after all their expenses and also the wear and tear on the vehicle. This hike would ``kill the trade''.

The Madras Lorryowners Association president, S.Yuvaraj, appealed to the Government to form a separate board for sand quarries and also regulate the business so that the money is not diverted.

The Chennai Lorryowners Welfare Association general secretary, M. Selvam, said several families from the weaker sections, who depend on the trade either directly or indirectly, like construction workers, would be affected if the Government did not intervene.

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