Stone quarrying seems to top the list of most favoured vocation these days. And ‘entrepreneurs’ are flocking to the district to exploit conditions. Those coming from Andhra Pradesh and Bangalore are keen to get the agricultural and revenue lands belonging to locals converted as quickly as possible and set up mines. Such mines have sprung up in Vakkaleri, Narasapura, Vemagal and Mulbagal.

Crushing jelly stones has also picked up alongside stone quarrying and the poor are getting employment. But what is worrisome is that the dust generated while crushing is settling on the fields and groves of neighbouring farmers, harming the crops. People’s health is also getting affected, with problems related to the lungs on the rise.

Quarrying and crushing are being done simultaneously in Lakshmipura and Chikkanahalli of Muduvatti Gram Panchayat limits, Bettabenajenahalli of Vakkaleri GP limits, Chaluvanahalli of Arabhikottanur GP, Bettahosapura of Chunchadevanahalli GP, Talagunda of Vemagal GP limits and others.

All these areas once abounded in flora and fauna and a thriving bio-system and waterbodies used to be full round the year. But now, it has become increasingly difficult to eke out a living by cultivating the land adjoining these water bodies, thanks to pollution. The forest cover no longer exists and so do birds and animals. Most of the tanks have either dried up or are clogged with silt.

In this juncture, the jelly crushing business is threatening to expand to unheard of proportions day by day. Those who began in a small way have now brought in huge machinery and equipment, not bothering about the impact on environment.

Explosives powerful enough to blow the boulders and hillocks into smithereens in a matter of minutes are being used. This has resulted in buildings including schools and houses developing cracks; several Ashraya houses face the danger of collapsing any moment. Several borewells have had to repaired time and again at the farmers’ cost.

Meanwhile, pressure is being exerted on the Deputy Commissioner to convert land for quarrying and crushing purposes. But the opposition to the same is also going strong with besieging the GP offices, protests in front of the ZP office being the dominant features. MLA C B Krishnabhyregowda is also not keen to have these mines operating in his constituency.

Local political leaders are being wooed by these businessmen for required permit, land conversion and most important of all, permission to carry on the business in the area. This lobby is specially active in Bagepalli, Shidlaghatta, Chikkaballapur, Chintamani and Mulbagal.  Even forest land is not being spared; encroachment is slowly gaining pace here. It is time elected representatives took notice of the happenings and ensured proper systems were in place to counter the lobby.