JOIN USForget Bellary, illegal mining goes on just outside Bangalore
Leave alone initiating action against those who have plundered forest wealth in the name of mining in Bellary and its neighbouring districts, the State government has shown no inclination to check illegal sand mining around Bangalore City.
Step into villages in Kolar and Bangalore rural districts, you will see unauthorised, reckless digging, filtering of sand and transporting lorry loads of it to the City.
According to the rules, sand is allowed to be removed only in the designated river and tank beds across the State.
The districts closest to Bangalore where the Mines and Geology Department has permitted river bed sand mining is Mandya and Mysore.
In reality, digging in dry tank beds and private land and washing the soil in tanks of Bellare of Narasapura, just 16 km from Kolar town, Hattakki, Bandehalli, Marchandahalli, Vobahalli, Tavarekere and Agasarahalli in Bylarasapura of Hoskote taluk, Bangalore rural district is rampant.
This is the reality, despite the Lokayukta submitting to the government documentary evidence of illegal sand mining around Bangalore.
When this reporter visited the tank at Narasapura tank, two gangs of youths were seen using electric pumps to lift water from the tank and washing loads of mud to get ‘filtered sand’. Though technically there is nothing called ‘filtered’ sand, term refers to gravel procured from washed tank silt. As per rules, only sand from river beds should be used for construction. The government’s new sand policy bans the transport and use of filtered sand in the State.
Murali, under whose supervision sand filtration was going on, told Deccan Herald that he charged Rs 4,000 to 5,000 for a lorry load of sand. Unmindful of the scorching sun, the youths were busy washing the soil to obtain gravel. They said they earned Rs 300 a day from this labour intensive work.
The vast Bylanarasapura tank bed in Hoskote is dry except for some patches of water. In this abandoned area, an earth mover was seen lifting loads of mud. Sand was being loaded onto five or six lorries. Youths, under the supervision of their bosses, were engaged in washing sand using water jets. In addition to mining the sand illegally, they tapped power directly from overhead lines, to run the motors to draw water.
Free power
Ayaz, who had employed three boys to wash the mud, said there was a good demand for sand from Bangalore and hence, he had to work non-stop, even at night. Is he not afraid of being raided by police or other authorities?
“We should not be doing this. We always have the fear of being raided or arrested. It is not only in Hoskote that sand mining is going on. You go to Kanakapura, Sarjapura or Devanahalli, you will see the same.” Asked if BESCOM officers had at any time visited the tank area to check the illegal power tapping, he just smiled and sped away on his bike.
All along KR Puram Road on NH 4, one can see hundreds of lorries laden with filtered sand. There are sand bazaars too near KR Puram Circle and NGEF Circle. Below the Metro track under construction, filter sand is sold.
The price for a load is anywhere between Rs 9,000 and 11,000, whereas in villages it is available for half that price. A lorry load of river sand costs about Rs 20,000-23,000.
Who are responsible for checking illegal sand mining? It is the combined duty of the Revenue Department, Mines and Geology Department and police, according to Sonne Gowda, Deputy Director, Mines and Geology Department. It was obvious that none of the departments are stopping the mining at the field level. But, when the sand laden trucks hit the streets, the police and Revenue Department officials swing into action and stop the vehicles in their tracks.
Harassed
There have been allegations that the lorries are allowed to proceed after collecting bribes. Many believe that the bulk of construction work including that of the government will come to a standstill if they were not allowed to carry on with their illegal business.
B V Narayanappa, General Secretary, Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners’ and Agents’ Association, said: “Our drivers are harassed for no reason. We are doing just a postman’s job. The government is allowing illegal mining. People involved in mining are not punished but they target the drivers. For days together, we lose business.”
Some sand mining facts
* The government permits sand mining in rivers at 1,600 designated spots
* Illegal sand mining and transport go on right under the nose of government officials
* The government is empowered to recover even private land if mining of filtered sand is carried out.
* Goonda Act can be invoked against persons engaged in illegal sand mining
* Filtered sand mining is rampant around Bangalore and in neighburing districts
* Filtered sand is used even for bridge, road and metro rail works of govt
* Nearly 2,500 lorries bring filtered sand every day to Bangalore City from Kolar, Kanakapura, Chikkaballapur etc
* Quality river sand available in Sakaleshpur, Hassan, Bellary among 10 districts
* In villages, illegal sand mining is patronised by local politicians
* Lorry owners say they pay Rs 5,000 to 75,000 as bribe to officials