CH NEWS, GADAG
Quarry and stone crusher operators will observe a one-day statewide strike to protest against frequent changes in government regulations and the controversial double royalty system.
Raju Nalvada, district president of the Karnataka Quarry and Stone Crusher Owners’ Association, announced the collective agitation during a press conference held at the local Press Club on Friday.
Expressing deep grief over the recent suicide of a distressed crusher owner in Shivamogga, Nalvada stated that unscientific policies are driving unit operators toward despair. Across Karnataka, around 2,000 stone crushers operate, including thirty-seven facilities located in the home district. The association demanded immediate official intervention, urging authorities to replace the current double recovery system with a single-point royalty mechanism.
Nalvada criticized departments like Public Works and Water Resources for automatically deducting royalty amounts while mining authorities independently collect dues from quarry operators for the identical material. Calling this duplicate charge completely illegal, unjust, and unsustainable, he asserted that royalty should only be collected once, either from mining owners or final consumers.
Association leaders Basayya Mahantayya Matha, Jadiyappa Bangali, and Amaresh Hoogar attended the briefing. They warned that unless the government formulates clear guidelines and collects only lawful royalties, prolonged statewide protests will inevitably escalate further.