JOIN USResidents allege that the atmosphere there has been polluted with dust by more than four stone crusher units functioning in Survey Number 22 at Pirumanahalli and 26 at H Thimmapura. They blame that the units were functioning without adhering to government rules and the surrounding areas were polluted with dust.
Villagers complain that in addition to destroying the forest, the units also had damaged nearby houses by using explosives in their mines. Cracks have been developed in some of the houses in the region, they said adding that the water resources in the region were also dried up due to the mining activities in excessive depth.
Though villagers Malleshappa, Nagarajappa, Ramesh, Basappa and Chandrappa have own borewells in their farms, they are not able to grow crops since the water resources were dried up. The region where hay was available in abundance earlier is now facing the acute shortage of it and villagers strive to feed their bovines, villagers informed.
Meanwhile, a burial ground situated in the region has been vanished after the crusher units started functioning, villagers complained. While people who have own land bury dead bodies of their kin on their own land, poor were forced to search for burial ground, they added.
Villagers said that the Forest Department refuse to take action and claim that the crushers are functioning in the revenue land. The Belenahalli Gram Panchayat had resolved in its meeting to stop the mining on January 15, 2009 and the resolution was sent to the deputy commissioner too, they said adding that no action was initiated so far.
Villagers had organised protests in front of the Tarikere Taluk Office twice and a bullock cart procession was also organised earlier.