Udupi: A huge protest rally held under the banner of All Association of the Sand Union on Thursday, 22nd September, 2016. Around 28 like-minded associations gathered at Jodukatte, Udupi and took out a huge protest rally to the DC office at Manipal.

The protest rally was flagged off at Jodukatte and proceeded towards Big Bazar, Court Road, Diana Circle, K. M. Marg, Service Bus stand, Kidiyoor Road, City Bus stand, Kalsanka, Kadiyali and culminated at the DC office.

The various organization's leaders handed over a memorandum to Venkatesh, Deputy Commissioner of Udupi district, Manipal. Deputy Commissioner Venkatesh assured the support for the protestors. All leaders present were condemned the sand mining approach of the district administration on the stance at the NGT.

Kuthyaru Prasad Shetty, addressing to the gathering and said that the construction industry have come to a standstill since the ban on the sand mining and affected the construction process in the district. District administration should frame rules and regulations for sending sand to the neighbouring districts and other states. There should be a separate sand mining policy for the coastal districts. The large numbers of people dependent on such business are really struggling heavy.

Builders Association members Jerry Vincent Dias, Manohar Shetty and others, Vijaykumar Hegde, M. G. Nagendra, Janani Divakar Shetty, Arun Bhandary, Ravi Shetty, BJP local leaders, Raghupathy Bhat and other like- minded leaders were present. Rain showers disturbed during the huge rally after the service station at Udupi to end of the rally.