R B Jagadish
With Additional Pics by Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (EP)
Karkala, Jul 24: The villagers of Renjal and Irvattur on Thursday July 24 held a massive protest against a stone crusher unit run by a company named RMC. The protestors, led by Grama Hitarakshana Samiti, said that life had become a living hell for them due to the stone crushing unit that has been operating in their village for the last four years.
The protestors said that when the crushing unit was established four years ago, the locals had protested, and the company officials had at that time responded to the demands of the people, but so far the company has not acted on its promises. This is said to be the main reason for the protest.
They also alleged that the unit being run by RMC has been functioning illegally without following any rules, regulations and precautionary measures.
"The owners are using powerful explosives without taking precautionary measures to ensure that the fragments do not fly, thus allowing the ash to mix with the water bodies in the area, and in turn rendering the fields barren. They have illegally acquired fertile land for their activities and the pieces of stones flying due to explosions have fallen on the cattle grazing in the area, injuring or killing them," they said.
They also alleged that the lorries carrying heavy loads of stones from the quarry passing had converted the tar roads into mud roads.
"People who have approached the company with grievances have been assaulted and threatened by rowdies hired by the company. Though the aggrieved have complained about it to the government, the people's representatives and the district administration, there has been no response," the protestors said.
The protestors also expressed ire against the district administration for not taking action against the quarry even after repeated appeals. The protest is expected to continue till evening.
Grama Hitarakshana Samiti president Mahaveer Hegde, taluk panchayat member Nagappa Mera, gram panchayat president Surekha Kotian, Ramesh V Shetty, Vasu Shetty, Praveen Shetty, Rajesh Renjal and others were present, along with hundreds of villagers.