The illegal sand mining in Sarjapura Doddakere has temporarily stopped after it was exposed. Fearing a repeat, residents are striving hard to reach out to the masses and officials to seek their support.

Under the banner of ‘Voice of Sarjapura’, the residents are planning to conduct a peaceful march from Ambedkar Ground, Sarjapura circle to Doddakere lake. More than 100 locals including the panchayat members are expected to participate.

“We have been threatened to not participate in the silent march by some of the miscreants. But citizens are determined to participate and make it successful. We have alerted the police department,” said Deepanjali, a member of Voice of Sarjapura.

In the past seven to eight years when the residents raised their voices against the mining in the lake, they faced backlashes from the offenders and even faced life threats. But this time, the residents have gone an extra mile and successfully gotten the earth movers seized from the spot with police help.

Now that the police department has made trenches along the banks of the lake, the earth movers or sand lorries are forbidden from entering the area. “We do not have to bear with the the noise generated due to the mining now. Hope this continues,” said a resident.

An irrigation department official said that there is a need for a “watchman” at the lake. “There used to be a watchman some years ago when sand mining was not taking place. We have proposed for a watchman for Doddakere lake in Sarjapura to the higher officials. We are yet to get a nod,” he said.