Harakanahalli residents protest against stone-quarrying units

Mandya Karnataka 30_December_2013 : Residents of Harakana Halli in Mandya taluk protesting, against blasts at stone quarries around their villages, outside the office of Mines and Geology in Mandya on December 30, 2013

Residents of Harakanahalli in the taluk on Monday staged a protest against blasts in stone quarries around their villages, which they claimed had damaged their houses.

The villagers, under the banner of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), participated in a demonstration held outside the office of the Department of Mines and Geology here.

They said that the quarrying units had violated rules pertaining to rock blasting for several years.

Despite repeated requests, the quarrying units persisted with their blasting. Protesters urged the department and the Mandya district administration to close quarrying units in the vicinity of the village, which falls in Basaralu hobli.

They also sought compensation from the quarry managements for the damage caused by the blasting. They threatened to intensify their agitation unless the matter was resolved.

Officials said they would visit the units. If they were indeed violating norms, then criminal cases would be booked against the quarry owners, the officials added.