The Hindu : Karnataka News : Dam under threat from illegal mining

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Others

Dam under threat from illegal mining

By Bharath Kumar H.

CHITRADURGA, NOV. 25. The main source of drinking water in the drought-prone Chitradurga district, the Vani Vilas Sagar dam, is under threat of water contamination and siltation owing to illegal mining of iron and manganese ore in the Vedavathi catchment area.

Norms flouted

According to sources, mining in Hosadurga taluk, especially in Mattodu hobli, is going on unchecked.

Safety norms and regulations are not followed.

More areas in the catchment areas are being opened up every day.

Expressing concern over uncontrolled mining in the district, a senior officer said, "Even the dam bed is not spared from mining. The maximum reservoir level (MRL) is 142 feet. But the reservoir has just 90 feet of water. So, there is no water around the majority of islets. If the trend continues, the dam will be filled with only silt and not water."

Contamination

The mining waste and ores left over on the dam bed flow into the river, thereby contaminating the water.

In Hosadurga taluk alone, there are around 35 licensed mines with around 3,000 hectares of land, of which 400 hectares is under the Forest Department and the rest under the Revenue Department, sources said.

Mining has increased after the demand for iron ore in the international market increased, according to sources in the mining industry.

The leased mine owners have expressed unhappiness over the issues relating to illegal mining.

"Illegal mining is rampant here. We have to pay taxes to the Government to get the licence and transport permit. Illegal miners use fake permits, have no licence, and do not follow the prescribed norms and regulations. They can offer to sell the ore at half the price, as they can still earn a profit," they said.

High-power committee

Speaking to The Hindu , S.R. Umashankar, Deputy Commissioner, said that mining along the river belt was causing a lot of damage to the Vani Vilas Sagar dam.

"The backwaters, where mining is on, comes under the Major Irrigation Department. I have urged them to take steps to put an end to illegal mining. We are viewing these developments very seriously," he said.

The Deputy Commissioner said that 27 cases of illegal mining had been registered.

A high-power committee under the leadership of the Deputy Conservator of Forests had also been set up to check illegal mining activities and environmental pollution.

The Deputy Conservator of Forests had submitted an interim report with an action plan to curb mining activities, Mr. Umashankar added.

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