JOIN USIllegal sand mining ruining bridges in C'magalur
The letter states that there are as many as 8 bridges on Hemavathi river bed and sand mining has been going on using heavy machineries, due to which the base of the bridges are being affected.
“The base of the bridges are visible due to excessive mining and drilling due to which there are all possibilities of the base losing its strength. To prevent the bridge from damage stopping the mining activities near the base of the bridge was prohibited and hence now the mining is going on in the middle of the river,” the letter stated and added that since the middle portion of the river is becoming vacant, the sand near the bridge, which has been supporting the bridge is flowing into the empty portion, which is in turn having adverse affect on the bridge.
Executive Engineer has urged the Superintending Engineer to see to it that blanket ban on sand mining in the area is imposed keeping in view the safety of 8 bridges which are under threat due to sand mining activities.
Situation no different
Meanwhile, Mudigere Assistant Executive Engineer has informed that sand mining in Hemavathi river bed in Mudigere has weakened the bridge in the area too.
Answering a query of Daradahalli resident D R Puttaswamy under RTI, the AEE said that Kittalegandi, Hichalli, Jogannanakere and Bettadamane bridges have been damaged to very large extent.
He informed that a letter has been written to Tahshildar as well as Mines and Geology Department urging them to take steps to control sand mining.