The Hindu

Mangalore, Aug 20: Residents of Ulepady village, who wanted the mining activities to be stopped, have rejected the rehabilitation offer made by the proprietor of the company.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, some of the residents said that they wanted the closure of granite mines. Sanjeeva, who represents the five Koraga tribal families of the area, turned down the offer of rehabilitation by saying that people had sentimental and religious reasons for staying on. “We have been here before the mines came along. We will not leave the place. It is not a question of money alone,” he said. To a question, Mr. Sanjeeva said that other residents of the place were scared to invoke the ire of the miners.

Tremors

Eliza Sequera, resident of the village, alleged that the tremors created by the blasts at the mining site were damaging her house. Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, a lawyer, challenged the legality of the explosive licence granted for carrying out blasts at the granite quarry at Ulepady.