Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Dec 31: There are allegations that laterite stone mining by unauthorised persons continues unabated in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district and the department of mines and geology has turned a blind eye to this scandal. The state government is losing crores of rupees in the form of royalty, sources said.
As per the district administration, only 40 hold licences to undertake laterite stone mining in DK but the remaining 500 people are doing this illegally and robbing the natural wealth. This activity along with illegal sand extraction have been hurting the interests of the district. For example, laterite stone mining undertaken for the last several years in both government and private land at Bambila Padavu in Amtady village, Bantwal taluk, has caused crores for rupees loss to the government.
Deputy commissioner Dr Rajendra K V, says that after noticing that illegal laterite stone mining is going on, village level officers were given the authority to check their licences and stop illegal ones. He said that after the village accountants and panchayat development officers were held directly responsible, most of the irregularities have come to a standstill now. He said that after the current gram panchayat election process concludes, the system will be tightened again from the first week of January.
There are allegations that influential people's representatives are supporting the illegal mining at Amtady and complaints made by villagers have not evoked any action. It is said that the mining at Bambila Padavu, Amtady, had stopped temporarily for about two years after the then chief minister Siddaramaiah, intervened and asked the district administration to stop illegal mining in 2014. Even though the minister for mines, C C Patil, wrote to the director of the department to stop illegal mining here, nothing has been done and huge vehicles continue to damage the roads.
After the villagers urged tahsildar Rashmi, to intervene, the laterite mining at Bambila Padavu has temporarily stopped now but the villagers are apprehensive that it might begin functioning again any time.