from daijiworld's special correspondent (GA)

Moodbidri, Jul 20: In the last couple of months, quarries in the two coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have hit news headlines, mostly for wrong reasons. 

While many complained about illegal quarrying at Bandimath near Barkur in Udupi, some others spoke at length about the bonded labour which is prevalent in some of the quarries at Moodbelle, Perdur regions.  Several press conferences too have been called to clarify the matter either by the quarry-owners or by those who have declared a war on quarrying.

Now one more red stone quarry at Naldatyar near Moodukonaje here has been hitting headlines gradually.  The said quarry has swallowed public way at Moodukonaje.  The residents say that their outcry against quarrying in Moodukonaje has become a cry in the wilderness with all the concern persons and authorities turning a deaf ear to them.

The quarry is owned by a person who has high-level links using which he has been able to suppress people's voice, said a local to this correspondent. The quarry comes under the confines of Shirtady panchayat.  But when enquired with the panchayat the answer is that they cannot do anything in this regard.  Complaints have also been filed with mining department, Moodbidri taluk panchayat.  But none of them is giving a patient hearing to the problems of the public.

Now the latest news is that the residents are planning to stage a dharna in front of the taluk panchayat office soon.