CWPRS team in district to conduct trial blast near KRS

A team of scientists from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, are in the district to conduct a trial blast to study the impact of stone quarrying on Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam, in Srirangapatna taluk.

The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) had submitted a report, warning that unabated mining in villages around KRS would affect the dam.

The district administration had imposed a temporary ban on mining in a radius of 20 km around the dam.

As various organisations urged the government to conduct a study, by a competent organisation, the CWPRS was requested to conduct a trial.

The team arrived in the district on Thursday and will conduct a trial blast on the North side of the dam, for five days from Friday.

The district administration has issued a press release, restricting movement of people and vehicles near the dam during the test.

Complaint

Meanwhile, RTI activist K R Ravindra lodged a complaint with the Forest department against district administration, saying that the test explosion should be conducted only after getting necessary permission from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The blast should not be allowed to be conduct in sensitive zones in the forest and near the bird sanctuary, he said.

Suspicion over order

He has raised suspicion over the order for another study while a government organisation has already given a report that mining activity will affect the dam.

The miners too have conducted an independent study by a private agency and have got a report that there is no danger to the dam. Succumbing to the pressure of the mining barons, the Deputy Commissioner has given permission to conduct a test.

The study should be conducted under the supervision of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, he stressed.

However, DC N Manjushri said, “The district administration has given permission for the study in the interest
of the dam. There is no need for an approval from the Union ministry to conduct a trial.”