Karnataka HC bans mining activity around KRS dam, pending study

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday ordered a ban on all kinds of mining/quarrying within 20 km of Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam in Mandya district. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit passed the order exercising suo motu powers and expanding the scope of the petition.

The bench noted the safety of the century-old dam and also the requirement of the same under provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and directed the mining department to pass necessary orders in this regard.

The petition was filed by one C G Kumar challenging the May 15, 2023 communication issued by the deputy commissioner, Mandya regarding 120 acres of land in Pandavapura taluk. The petitioner intended to quarry the land after converting it for non-agricultural use.

The petitioner was informed that he is bound to obey the decision that may be taken by the competent authority on receipt of a trial blasting report conducted by the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama. Until the report is received, he would not be permitted to use the land for non- agricultural purposes.

The counsel for the petitioner contended that some others were permitted quarrying on an earlier occasion and prayed to the court to allow him to carry out quarrying without blasting.

At the hearing, Justice Krishna Dixit said that the writings of Thi Tha Sharma (Tirumale Thathacharya Sharma) would convey that the KRS dam, the third largest in the state, was built on the “blood and sweat” of local people, and ordered a ban on mining and quarrying, rejecting the petitioner’s plea.

In the previous hearing, the court had observed the importance of the KRS dam. “The KRS dam was built as an engineering marvel under the able leadership of the master architect and Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya. It was a dream and vision of the great Maharaja of Mysore Sri Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar.”