Udupi, August 18, 2025: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) initiated an indefinite protest outside the Udupi District Collector’s office, led by the Udupi District Building and Other Construction Workers’ Coordination Committee, to address the acute shortage of red stones (laterite) and sand, which has severely affected poor households and construction workers. CITU State Vice-President Balakrishna Shetty, inaugurating the protest, stated that the district administration’s policies have made it impossible for the poor to afford building homes with red stones, a cost-effective alternative to pillars. This has also led to unemployment among construction workers, with the looming sand shortage expected to worsen the crisis. He called for a fierce struggle to resolve these issues.

CITU District General Secretary Suresh Kallagar highlighted that the 147 locations identified by the district administration for red stone quarrying lack quality stones, leading to a supply shortage against high demand. He accused the administration of enabling inflated prices, burdening the poor. Kallagar demanded legal permits for quarrying quality stones, adoption of Kerala’s royalty model (₹76 per ton), and a joint meeting with the District Collector, mining officials, and labor leaders to resolve the crisis.

Key Demands

1. Legal Permits for Quarrying: Issue licenses for safe laterite quarrying sites to ensure adequate supply.
2. Kerala Royalty Model: Reduce royalty to ₹76 per ton and eliminate additional taxes to make red stones affordable.
3. Annual License Renewal: Shift from six-monthly to yearly license renewals to curb illegal activities.
4. No Restrictions on Imports: Allow red stones from Dakshina Kannada quarries without restrictions due to limited local availability.
5. Price Regulation: Take action against those selling red stones at exorbitant rates, ensuring prices align with previous rates.
6. Joint Meeting: Schedule a meeting chaired by the District Collector with mining officials and labor leaders to address the red stone and sand crisis.

The protest reflects growing frustration among Udupi’s residents and workers, who rely on red stones for affordable housing. The CITU and coordination committee urged immediate action to alleviate the economic strain and unemployment caused by the shortage.