Karnataka   

Ore dumping threatens college

DANGEROUSLY CLOSE: A mining lorry operating close to the Government Composite PU College in Chitradurga district.

Chitradurga: “Every day we inhale ‘dust’ due to which many of us are now suffering from either dust allergy or throat infection. We have been spending amount on medicines, and consuming them is inevitable,” teachers working in the Government Composite PU College of Kashipur, a village about 30 km from Chitradurga city, say.

The college is located near an ore dumping yard, and the dust emanating from dumping ore has made the life of over 300 students difficult.

The dust has “painted” the walls red. Lectures are conducted within closed doors and windows to not only avoid the dust but also the noise from ore-laden lorries plying to and forth.

According to villagers, the situation was not this bad till a few years ago. Mining activities have been going on for many years. The Railways has been transporting ore from the region for several years now. However, mining activities have increased since about five years. With that, the number of lorries transporting ore too has gone up.

“We are losing crops owing to the accumulation of dust on the plants,” said a resident K. Sharanappa. He said that many students were reluctant to go to school due to the increased dust problem.

Principal P. Nagabhushan said that since the past couple of years, the number of school dropouts has increased. Last year, 42 students had taken admission to the I PU classes. This year, the number has reduced to 32.

“We cannot sit in class due to the dust. The entire class turns muddy. The noise created by passing vehicles makes it difficult to concentrate on lectures,” said Vijayalakshmi, a II PU student.

Mr. Nagabhushan said that dismayed over the problem, three lecturers of the six have taken transfer. At present, three lecturers deputed from elsewhere were handling Kannada, English and History three days a week.

“I have sought transfer since my throat infection has become worse. It is difficult to work anymore in such unhealthy atmosphere,” said a lecturer Nagaraj even as he showed the medicines he carries with him.

The teachers, students and villagers are demanding relocation of school. They said that countless memorandums have been submitted to the district administration to resolve the problem.

“We cannot shift it as it is a grant-in-aid college. The building does not belong to the Government; so the district administration cannot do much except suggesting the construction of a wall adjacent to the dumping yard,” said Deputy Commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas.

MP G.M. Siddeshwar, who is said to have donated the land and constructed the building, said that the matter was never brought to his notice.

“I have only read something about it in the newspapers. Now, it has come to my notice, I will see that something is done for the students. I will discuss it with the district administration and find a solution within a week,” he said.

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