Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) observed a bandh on Tuesday against the alleged obstruction of developmental works in mining area by Bharat Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML).
The bandh was total and peaceful. Janata Dal (Secular), Republican Party of India (RPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) have jointly gave the bandh call.
In a letter written to the Robertsonpet (KGF) City Municipal Council, the BGML authorities have directed that no developmental works should be taken up in the BGML colonies of mining area.
“The BGML authorities have failed keep the promise of giving an annual grant of Rs. 50 lakh to CMC to take up the developmental works in the BGML colonies. However, the civic authority is executing the works in the area on humanitarian grounds ever since the mining activities were wound up more than a decade ago”, CMC president and JDS leader M. Bhaktavatsalam said.
The CMC carrying out the works as majority of the people in these localities are Dalits, he added. “Dalits will be hit mostly if no civic works were taken up in the colonies,” he said adding it is inhuman on the part of BGML to direct the CMC not to take up works.
