The Hindu : Karnataka / Hassan News : Ban on illegal mining, transportation of sand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Hassan

Ban on illegal mining, transportation of sand

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN, JAN. 8. The Assistant Commissioner, Hassan Sub-division, N. Manjula, has clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, against illegal mining and transportation of sand from the Hemavathi in Hassan and Holenarsipur taluks for the next fifteen days, said a release from the Office of the Assistant Commissioner and Sub-divisional Magistrate here on Saturday.

The release said that the decision to prohibit illegal mining and transportation activity had been taken at a meeting on December 22.

The decision was taken to save the Hemavathi from getting polluted and to prevent roads in the taluk from getting damaged, the release added.

Checkposts

Two checkposts would be set up on the Holenarsipur-Channarayaptna Road and the Hassan-Holenarsipur Road and all vehicles passing on these roads will be checked.

Action will be initiated against the vehicles that transported sand illegally, the release said.

The Minister for Public Works and Energy, H.D. Revanna, faced the of the fallout of illegal mining and transportation in the region on Thursday.

The Minister was on his way to Moodalahippe village in the taluk to lay the foundation stone for the "Swachcha Grama Yojane" project.

The road that the Minister took to reach the village was damaged by heavy vehicles transporting sand.

The wheels of two heavily-laden vehicles were stuck in large potholes and attempts to move these vehicles failed. Traffic on the route was affected for almost an hour.

Unaware of the incident, Mr. Revanna chose to take this route to reach Moodalahippe. However on reaching the spot he was shocked to find that the road had been blocked. He was forced to cancel his appointment

Contractors

Residents of Holenarsipur taluk recently alleged that though the Department of Mines and Geology had permitted only four contractors to mine sand, many more contractors were involved in illegal mining in various parts in the taluk.

They said that many contractors used mechanised boats for mining even thought there were rules against their use. They were also using heavy machinery to mine sand and according to one estimate, nearly 40 mechanised boats were mining sand in the region.

The residents said that because of over mining, river water was getting polluted. According to sources in Transport Department, 15 cases have been filed against illegal transportation of sand so far and the police have seized three boats in this connection.

Superior quality

According to contractors, there is great demand for sand from the Hemavathi because of its superior quality. The sand is being used to manufacture sand paper and glass.

The district in-charge Minister, H.D. Revanna, had directed the Assistant Commissioner, the police and officials of the Transport Department to stop illegal mining and transportation of sand.

The Assistant Commissioner today clamped prohibitory orders in this regard after the Minister was forced to cancel his official programme due to bad condition of roads.

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