The Jana Sangram Parishat, Naisargika Sampanmula Samrakshana Kriya Samiti and various other progressive forums urged the government not to re-allot category C mines to captive mines as they were negatively impacting the state’s biodiversity.
People from mining-affected villages across the district, under the aegis of various forums, gathered in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Friday and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Secretary Ranganath through the DC in this regard.
In the memorandum, the villagers urged the state government not to allow 51 category C mines to resume operations in the state by re-alloting them for captive mining through auctions.
They stated that mining activities had caused serious health problems among villagers and their livestock. Agriculture activities have been severely affected by the rampant illegal mining in Sandur taluk.
Mining activities in Sandur taluk have damaged the entire forest, water bodies have been polluted and filled with mining silt and the underground water level has drastically reduced, they said and urged the state government to impose a ban on C category mines considering its affect on the villages, the eco-rich Sandur forest and the historical Kumaraswamy Temple among other tourist spots in the vicinity.
They also stated that the CM had seen the problems of mining-affected villages in Sandur when he visited the area.