CITU to march to Kerala-TN border over quarry product blockade

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has announced a protest march and dharna towards the Puliyara border check post on September 11, demanding that Tamil Nadu lift its restrictions on the movement of quarry products — including stone aggregates, gravel and M-sand — into Kerala.

The union body said the curbs have brought Kerala's construction sector to a standstill, stalling infrastructure projects and leaving thousands of workers without income. CITU district secretary S Jayamohan said the lack of raw materials has forced migrant labourers to return home while local workers face unemployment.

Public housing projects under the LIFE Mission and other development works have ground to a halt, he said, adding that truck operators, drivers and daily-wage labourers have been hit hard. Contractors have abandoned civil works such as roads, bridges and housing as procurement has become impossible, he noted.

Jayamohan also alleged that local supplier cartels are exploiting the artificial shortage to charge exorbitant prices. He criticised the Kerala government for what he called a passive response, pointing to viable alternatives such as removing river sand and sediment deposited during recent floods — a move that could ease shortages and generate revenue for local bodies.

He further said the Forest department has stopped its earlier practice of collecting monsoon-deposited sand and supplying it to yards at subsidised rates, leaving the public dependent on external supply chains. CITU is urging both state governments to act immediately to resolve the crisis.