BELLARY: The Sandur Taluk Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti has given a call for a 24-hour Sandur bandh on April 30 to protest against the failure of the district authorities to prevent air and environmental pollution arising from iron ore mining and the transportation of ore. They are also protesting the absence of proper civic amenities in the town.

Speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday, P.M. Shivakumar, samiti president, said Sandur, till recently known for its thick green forests and natural beauty, had suffered untold environmental and ecological degradation ever since unscientific mining started in the region. The transportation of iron ore was causing a lot of dust pollution and this had affected public health.

According to the samiti, its efforts in the past to pressure the district administration to take action on its demands had not been successful. It was thus forced to intensify its agitation with a call for a 24-hour bandh.

"The movement of lorries carrying iron ore would be completely stopped between 6 a.m. on April 30 and 6 a.m. on May 1.

The organisation hopes that this will draw the attention of the official machinery, from the departments of Revenue, Mines and Geology, Forests, Environment and Pollution Control and the police, to the plight of ordinary people," it said.

The samiti also criticised elected representatives for not helping it initiate action against erring mining companies. "We urge the Government to stop issuing new leases and licences to those who wish to take up mining activities in the taluk," Mr. Shivakumar said.

Despite the huge revenue the taluk generates, it remains backward and Sandur town lacks basic amenities such as regular drinking water supply and good roads, he said. "We want the Government to ban direct export of iron ore and instead develop infrastructure to use the ore locally to add value to it before it is exported," Mr. Shivakumar added.

The other demands of the samiti include: repair of all roads that have been damaged, construction of a long-pending bus depot, underground drainage, new railway lines and introduction of passenger train services from Narasapur Cross to Kottur.

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