Women crackdown on illegal soil extraction in Kolar

Members of the Chandramouleshwara Women’s Tank Association, which was entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining Kendatti tank by the Jalavardhana Yojana Sangha, laid siege to the tank bund where illegally extracted soil was being loaded onto a truck.

They stopped the struck and the workers who were extracting the soil. They didn’t allow them to carry on the work and seized the vehicles.

Srinivas, who was allegedly involved in the illegality, rushed to the spot. The members argued that he will not be allowed to extract the soil without permission.

Prevalent

But, Srinivas defended saying extracting soil from tank was prevalent across the district and he was not the only person to be blamed.

“It is wrong to extract soil without contributing to conserve the tank,” the women retorted.

They insisted that he must submit the licence obtained for the mining and pay fine of Rs 50 per each load of soil transported illegally so far.

Srinivas refused to oblige and returned with his vehicles. The members had a harsh experience when they prevented another person involved in the alleged illegal extraction of soil from the same tank.

The women told the reporters that owner, MTBY Shankar’s behaviour with the members was demeaning.

However, the members didn’t budge from the spot till the tractors were moved out of the site. The members said the local leaders were the main hurdle in conserving the tanks. In a case of fence eating the crop, the elected representatives have involved in illegal extraction of soil.

They exercise their political clout and abuse those who opposed them, the women alleged.

Members Usha, Radha and Bharati along with Anand of the Jalavardhana Yojana Sangh have urged the deputy commissioner to check the exploitation of the scarce water resources of the district.