<p class="title">A team of scientists from the Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune, who had come for a trial blast near Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam in Srirangapatna taluk on Monday returned without conducting the blast, following opposition by local residents.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The scientists, A K Gouze, Vijay Godsey, Rajendra Gujjar and Nikil Taaraka, had camped in a hotel in Srirangapatna, to conduct the trial blast, to study the impact of quarrying.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The trial blast was planned following tremors caused by quarrying recently.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The farmers and eco-activists had staged a protest, saying that the quarrying had affected the KRS dam due to vibrations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The scientists dropped the trial blast as members of Cauvery Ulisi Janandolana Samiti launched a ‘Go Back’ campaign in front of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited office here in the morning. The scientists called four representatives of the Samiti for a discussion. As the protestors demanded that the scientists hold an open discussion, they cancelled the programme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited executive engineer K Basavarajegowda said, following opposition by the people, the scientists decided not to conduct the blast.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The protestors said they would not allow the blast at any cost, as stone quarrying would affect the dam. A government agency has already conducted a study and cautioned about the danger to the dam, if mining continues.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Samiti leaders Pa Mallesh, Guruprasad Keragodu, Sunanda Jayaram and Badagalapur Nagendra were among those present.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, quarry owners also staged a protest, demanding a trial blast. Quarrying will be stopped completely if scientists confirm that the quarry will impact the dam. The people should allow the scientists to conduct the test, they said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Presently, there is a ban on quarrying within a radius of 20 km of the KRS dam.</p>
<p class="title">A team of scientists from the Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune, who had come for a trial blast near Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam in Srirangapatna taluk on Monday returned without conducting the blast, following opposition by local residents.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The scientists, A K Gouze, Vijay Godsey, Rajendra Gujjar and Nikil Taaraka, had camped in a hotel in Srirangapatna, to conduct the trial blast, to study the impact of quarrying.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The trial blast was planned following tremors caused by quarrying recently.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The farmers and eco-activists had staged a protest, saying that the quarrying had affected the KRS dam due to vibrations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The scientists dropped the trial blast as members of Cauvery Ulisi Janandolana Samiti launched a ‘Go Back’ campaign in front of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited office here in the morning. The scientists called four representatives of the Samiti for a discussion. As the protestors demanded that the scientists hold an open discussion, they cancelled the programme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited executive engineer K Basavarajegowda said, following opposition by the people, the scientists decided not to conduct the blast.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The protestors said they would not allow the blast at any cost, as stone quarrying would affect the dam. A government agency has already conducted a study and cautioned about the danger to the dam, if mining continues.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Samiti leaders Pa Mallesh, Guruprasad Keragodu, Sunanda Jayaram and Badagalapur Nagendra were among those present.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, quarry owners also staged a protest, demanding a trial blast. Quarrying will be stopped completely if scientists confirm that the quarry will impact the dam. The people should allow the scientists to conduct the test, they said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Presently, there is a ban on quarrying within a radius of 20 km of the KRS dam.</p>