Mangalore: Manoj Shetty, President of the DK and Udupi District Quarry Owners Association has said that the quarry owners were in distress following a High Court order to shift all stone crushers to a separate zone.

Speaking to reporters in Mangalore on September 27, Thursday he said the HC order has led to the closure of as many as 200 stone quarries in the undivided DK district.

He said the closure of the quarry will affect not only the quarry industry but also the construction and real estate sectors while also resulting in unemployment. He also said that a separate zone for crushers is impossible under the present circumstances, He said though the High Court  orders was on the pretext of reducing pollution, while  what was more highlighted was creation of a separate zone. He pointed out the case in Haryana where a separate zone for crushers led to more environment pollution.

Mohammad Ameen, President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry and KC Naik, Chairman of Mahabaleshwara Builders and Founder Secretary of CREDAI, Mangalore also expressed their apprehensions over the HC ruling.

Vijay Mayya, Chairman of Association of Consulting Civil Engineers, said that the construction industry would be the worst hit due to the closure of quarries.

Sudesh Jain of Builders’ Association, K C Kamath, Vice President of Quarry Owners Association also spoke on the occasion.