Villagers write to oversight panel on 'misuse' of KMERC funds

Bengaluru: Villagers of mining-affected areas have written to the Supreme Court-appointed Oversight Authority of Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC) to oppose the misuse of the corporation funds for unrelated projects.

As per the Supreme Court order, the funds - about Rs 30,000 crore - have to be spent for the restoration of the mining-affected areas. A total of 258 villages in Ballari, Chitradurga, Tumakuru and Vijayanagar were declared as mining-affected areas by the central empowered committee.

Villagers under the banner of Janasangrama Parishath and Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha, wrote to Justice Sudershan Reddy, the oversight authority of KMERC, raising concerns about politicians pushing projects not linked to restoration of the mining affected areas to gain political mileage.

“Political parties and elected leaders are eying the Rs 30,000-crore KMERC funds. They are pushing for projects that benefit them and misrepresenting them as works that benefit the people,” the letter said.

Sreeshaila Aladahalli of the Parishath said people in 90 villages of Sandur taluk get poor quality water, lack health care centres amid rising cases of asthma and other diseases attributed to mining, lack of proper roads and public transport.

Activists expressed concern about the corporation approving works worth hundreds of crores even though they do not come under the ambit of KMERC. They urged the oversight authority to cancel the Rs 270.64 crore project to provide drinking water to 15 zones of Ballari and another Rs 121.83 crore for the reconstruction of a 550-bed medical college hospital in Ballari.

Activists said KMERC should prioritise rehabilitation and restoration of the environment, life and livelihood of the people in the mining-affected areas and listed 13 major demands: increasing work days under the employment guarantee scheme by 100 days, medical infrastructure and expertise, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the mining-affected villages and others.