Stone quarrying halted, claims Karkala MLA

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-05-13 01:31:49 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-13 20:33:34

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Karnataka MLA Sunil Kumar has alleged that the state government has stopped renewing quarrying permits, causing job losses and threatening the livelihood of thousands of workers in the booming construction industry. The government has claimed that the halt is due to environmental concerns and the need to replenish exhausted mining sites.

In a recent press conference, Kumar, who is the Karkala MLA, representing the Congress Party, stated that the closure of quarrying operations in Udupi district had led to a severe labor crisis, leaving thousands of workers in the sector without employment. He criticized the government's failure to address their plight, calling for urgent measures to support these workers.

Sunil Kumar alleged that the closure had been politically motivated in light of the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka, citing that the decision to halt quarrying happened shortly after a Congress rally in the area. He argued the current government had failed to address the needs of the people and only cared about appearing environmentally conscious to gain electoral traction.

The Congress Party has vowed to legalize quarrying and provide alternative employment to those affected by the sector's closure if elected in the upcoming polls.

The state government has reportedly claimed that quarrying closures are intended to allow for the regeneration of mining sites and that the environment needs to be protected from unrestrained development. However, with the conflicting agenda of high-ranking officials in the government and powerful mining interests, it remains to be seen if the environmentally-minded rhetoric will hold strong or if a pro-business agenda will take precedence.

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