MLAs K P Bache Gowda, N H Shivashankar Reddy, N Sampangi and Dr Sudhakar speaking at a press conference here on Saturday said the sand mining was the main reason for the depletion of groundwater in the region.
They said that in spite of the repeated request, the government had not banned the sand transportation.
Farmers live wreaked
The government by bowing to the pressure from lorry owners has wreaked the lives of farmers, they added.
The MLAs said that they decided to fight the issue irrespective of their party affiliation.
Gauribidnur MLA Shivashankar said that as many as 200 to 300 truck loads of sand was being transported from Gauribidnur every day.
He said that the rampant sand mining had not only lead to the loss of water source but had severely damaged roads in the taluk.
A memorandum in this regard was submitted to the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Transport Minister R Ashok and they had also promised to ban the transportation, expressed Shivashankar.
Permit extended
However, the permit for sand transportation which ended on September 30 was extended by another 6 months by the ministers through an order, he added.
Bagepalli MLA N Sampangi said that the groundwater water had depleted severely in Bagepalli and Gudibande taluks.
Many people in these taluks are suffering from fluorosis due to their complete dependence on borewell water, expressed Sampangi who said that there were villages were physically challenged were in large numbers. He alleged that Chief Minister didn’t initiate any actions though the issue was brought to his notice.
Police support
Every lorry has been given permit to carry 8 tonnes of sand. But in actuality 16 tonnes of sand is being transported daily, expressed Sudhakar MLA from Chintamani. He accused the police of colluding with the culprits as none of the lorries were checked.
Chikkaballapur MLA Bache Gowda said that government should take action to protect the sand which is helpful in recharging groundwater.
He ridiculed the government’s apathy in protecting the sand when it couldn’t provide permanent irrigation to the district.
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