Daijiworld Media Network - Brahmavar (MS)

Brahmavar, Sep 27: Though the government and concerned officials are trying their best to prevent illegal mining of stones and sand, the menace continues to work in some places. One of these is the stone mining that is going on at Bandimatt under Hanehalli gram panchayat in the taluk.

This illegal stone mining, without license, is being carried out on land adjacent to land bearing survey number 197 and 139/1 of Hanehalli. Local residents are under panic. Just at a distance of 30 metres from the stone quarry is the water tank of the gram panchayat and also the main road, students hostel and Nagabana. There is a possibility that this illegal stone mining will have an adverse effect on all of these.

Stone quarry started in Bandimutt 14 years ago. However, after the villagers held a protest, the then DC Gaurav Gupta had given written orders to stop the mining. Now, just next to the earlier spot, the mining has started once again. The appeal of villagers this time around to stop the mining has fallen on deaf ears. Now the villagers have appealed to the DC to take proper action after inspecting the spot through the revenue department.

Subbanaika Bandimutt, a local resident says, "Earlier also due to the dangers that occurred from the illegal stone quarry at Bandimutt, we, the villagers have held protests and stopped it. Now it has resurfaced. We have requested to stop the stone mining. But it is still continuing. Villagers have unitedly submitted an appeal to the concerned departments and officials in this regard."

Umesh Kallianpur, secretary, Hanehalli gram panchayat says, "We discussed and stopped the illegal stone mining at Bandimutt, which was being carried out without the permission of Hanehalli panchayat. Now the villagers have complained that it has restarted. We will bring this to the notice of the higher officials."