Speakers at a day-long convention of people affected by mining, here on Monday, underlined the need for nationalisation of mining activities and launching a relentless struggle to ensure the development of the affected people and also the restoration of environment and ecology.
Inaugurating the convention, Allamaprabhu Bettadur, writer, while expressing concern over the irreparable loss caused to the environment and ecology on one hand and plundering of natural mineral resources on the other owing to unbridled illegal mining activities, underlined the need for the government to nationalise mining instead of granting the mines on lease.
S.R. Hiremath of the Samaj Parivartan Samudaya, accused politicians and ‘corrupt’ officials of negligence in utilising crores of rupees under Reclamation and Rehabilitation (R&R) plan for restoration of environment and ecology and human development.
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“Hefty funds are available but the politicians and corrupt officials have not been chalking out an appropriate plan resulting in Supreme Court disapproving it. There appears to be a sinister design to siphon off funds by proposing construction of flyovers. To ensure that the R&R funds reached the people, launching a relentless movement was inevitable and people should support the cause and achieve success,” he said.
Raghavendra Kushtagi of Jan Sangram Parishat, while endorsing the views of Mr. Hiremath, exhorted the people affected by mining to unitedly fight for their rights and emerge successful.
C. Somashekar, of Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI), accused the Congress, BJP and JD(S) of pursuing policies to protect capitalists and chalking out plans for their welfare.
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Ramanjinappa of All India Democratic Youth Organisation, Chaganur Mallikarjun Reddy of Chaganur-Siriwar Neeravari Bhoo Horata Samiti, Aldahalli Srishail of Jan Sangram Parishat were among others who spoke.
A committee, titled ‘Gani Bhadita Janara Abhivridhi Samiti’ was formed to take up the cause.