People’s movement to ban mining, save KRS launched

Freedom fighter H S Doreswamy on Monday targetted former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda for remaining stoic over illegal mining activities in the district.

Addressing a gathering during the ‘Ban mining - drop Disneyland project -Save KRS dam’ movement, organised by Janandolana Committee, at KRS (Krishnaraja Sagar) North Bank, in Pandavapura taluk, Mandya district, on Monday, Doreswamy said, Deve Gowda should shed his silence over the issue. “Gowda had maintained the same silence during the Ballari mining issue and left it for the Congress to tackle it. The proposed Disneyland project is sure to affect the KRS dam. At least now, he should take steps to stop it for the safety of the dam,” he said.

“Deve Gowda should advise the CM, ministers and legislators of the coalition government to drop the project. The projects that would affect the farmers should be stopped in the initial level itself. Natural resources are being looted at Ballari, Kanakapura and Bebi Betta. The ministers of the coalition government are shareholders in this exploitation of nature. Even though experts are warning the district administration about the impact of mining on the dam, the government is trying to go ahead with the project. The next generation would not pardon us if the dam is affected. Mining should be banned at sensitive places,” he stressed.

He alleged that the CM is spending most of his time on loan waiver issue and is not concentrating on serious issues like mining. “The CM says there is no need for any movement and the problems can be sorted out. But, no steps have been taken against mining so far. He should immediately announce a permanent ban on mining in the region and also drop the Disneyland project,” he said.

The freedom fighter said, he is ready to meet the CM to discuss the need for a ban on mining and to drop Disneyland project. He would be briefed about the pros and cons of the project.

Raitha Sangha leader Chamarasa Malipatil complained that the CM gets angry when questioned about the new project. “During the farmers meeting in Bengaluru recently, the CM became irritated as soon as we raised the topic about the proposed project at KRS. Hence, it has become inevitable to take out a people’s movement to stop the project,” he said.

The decisions taken in the meeting are to stress for a permanent ban around 20 km of KRS dam; drop construction of a huge tower, statue and Disneyland project; immediate ban on mining in reserve forest areas; rejuvenation of lakes and ponds that have been destroyed by levelling the land during mining, basic facilities for villages that were affected during the construction of KRS dam and their rehabilitation.