Karnataka - Bellary   

Government asked to check pollution caused by mining

Staff Correspondent

Absence of any restraint on mining and delay in construction of bypass road has affected the health of the people of the region

BELLARY: Sandur-based Citizens' Welfare Association has threatened to launch an agitation if the State Government and the district administration fail to take steps to prevent the large-scale pollution caused by mining activities in the region.

Memorandum

Association members, led by their president T.M. Shivakuar, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

They drew his attention towards the plight of the residents of the region.

In the memorandum, they said the absence of check over pollution due to mining and delay in construction of a bypass road has affected the health of the people of the region.

According to them, Sandur was facing air and noise pollution followed by health hazards due to dust raised by movement of hundreds of lorries transporting iron ore.

Menace

Despite many representations in this regard, the authorities concerned have not taken any steps to relieve the people from this menace, they said. Welcoming the decision of the Deputy Commissioner to ban movement of mine lorries between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. in Bellary, the association members urged him to extend the order to Sandur and take steps to start the construction of the bypass road.

Corruption

The citizens, while urging him to check rampant corruption in all the offices connected with mining, wanted the authorities to ensure that the afforestation programme is taken up and traffic rules were followed.

The members of the association urged the Deputy Commissioner to periodically monitor the air pollution level in villages around the iron ore mines and publish the same.

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