Villagers' plea to stop illegal quarry works

The Minister, zilla panchayat, taluk panchayat and Gram Panchayat presidents visited the quarry site on Friday.

The minister promised to stop the quarry after holding discussions with the Deputy Commissioner, Mines and Geology director, MLA Dr Vishwanath and elected representatives.

The villagers said one Sathyanarayana Reddy owns the quarry. He had come from Bellary to carry out mining two years ago.

The villagers of Mallidevihalli, Shankarapura, Kanagondanahalli, Bhovi had staged a protest in front of taluk office against illegal mining 15 days ago.

Owing to the use of explosives at the mining site, the houses in the region have developed cracks.

Siddamma of Bhovi colony said: “We feel as if the explosives are blasted at our head. The houses have developed cracks and the houses might collapse at any moment. Owing to the explosives, several borewells have been filled. Arecanut, coconut trees are filled with jelli powders, thus spoiling hundreds of hectares plantations. The dust is also affecting the health of the people,” said M R T Suresh.

Kadur Yalanadu Mutt Jnanaprabhu Siddarama Deshikendraswamy has supported the farmers in their protest against mining.

MLA Dr Vishwanath promised to solve the problem at the earliest.

Deputy Commissioner Ranganath, Tahsildar B Roopa, HQA Ranjitha and others were present.