The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : People want mining stopped

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Tuesday, Apr 01, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

People want mining stopped

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: A group of villagers led by S.P. Thimme Gowda from Herur village in Yesalur hobli of Sakleshpur taluk, Hassan district, on Monday urged Governor Rameshwar Thakur to order the authorities concerned to stop illegal mining of the Rudrashila black granite, which was destroying the sensitive Western Ghats.

Speaking to presspersons along with members of the Cauvery Sene of Kodagu district, Mr. Gowda alleged that the mining had been stopped by the tahsildar and the Department of Mines and Geology.

But the powerful mining contractors were continuing with it in alleged connivance with the politicians.

He alleged that the local politicians had managed to get revenue lands in the 6,000-acre hills sanctioned to their kith and kin and taken up mining in the area and the officials had taken no action to curb the illegal activity. The Goudana Kere had accumulated silt due to extensive mining and it was on the verge of getting dried up.

Added to these, the environment in the entire surroundings had been affected because of pollution. The movement of trucks carrying granite had also damaged the roads.

The ranges is the catchment area for the Hemavathy and is a tourist spot visited by people, including those from the nearby Changada Halli, Uchangi and Hosur villages of Yesalur hobli.

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