The course of River Kapila in Nanjangud in the district has changed to a large extent, owing to unabated illegal sand mining at the land contiguous with the Assembly constituencies of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (Varuna) and Revenue and District in-charge Minister V Sreenivas Prasad representing Najangud in the Assembly.

This has resulted in the estimated loss of Rs 16.80 crore with 8,400 loads of sand sold, alleged Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leader and advocate S Nanjegowda on Thursday.

Addressing the media, Nanjegowda alleged that the course of the river flowing near Moodahalli in Nanjangud taluk has been deviated up to 70 metres due to the illegal activity being carried out by influential persons like Indhan alias Babu, brother-in-law of PWD Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa, and Krishna a close aide of Siddaramaiah.

Nanjegowda who released photographic evidences substantiating his charges said that though the issue was brought to the notice of the chief minister through his officer on special duty in Bangalore on October 29, 2013, no action had been initiated.

The office of the deputy commissioner that received the letter on October 31 too had remained mum on the issue. Nanjegowda said the land where sand mining was taking place was a government land abutted by the burial ground. The Mines and Geology department had allotted land for sand mining for Krishna at yard 2(18) at Nagarle village. However, Krishna has continued with the activity at the afore mentioned (abutting the water body) place, he said.

Nanjegowda said that this posed a threat to the neighbouring fertile rich lands (survey numbers 277, 279, 230, 235 and 286).

The farmers are worried that this may cause landfall, he added.