A team from the National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM), led by its Director H.S. Venkatesh, has commenced work on studying the impact of mining in the vicinity of ancient monuments, including the Sri Kumaraswamy and Sri Parvatidevi temples belonging to the Eighth Century, in Sandur taluk of Ballari district.
The study by NIRM is being carried out at the behest of the State government, following apprehensions by naturalists and environmentalists that mining activities were posing a threat to the ancient temples and the rich bio-diversity of the Sandur forest besides demanding a ban on mining around the ancient temples and declaring it as National Heritage Zone.
According to sources, the team undertook measuring of vibration with the help of seismometers, kept in different directions, following blasting at various points in the mining area held by Mysore Minerals Limited in Subbarayanahalli, and also studied its impact. Similar activities would be performed by the team in all the mining areas during the next 10 days. Thereafter, the team will submit its report.
Meanwhile, members of the district unit of Jan Sangram Parishat, which is spear-heading a movement to protect the ancient temples and other monuments around the mining areas and the rich bio-diversity of Sandur forests, have taken exception to the absence of officials of some departments concerned in the study. “The Government Order issued through the Department of Mines and Geology states that NIRM should carry out a study in the presence of officials concerned and submit the report through the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). But, on Saturday, except the officials from the Department of Mines and Geology and Forests, all other department officials concerned, including ASI, Indian Bureau of Mines, among others, were absent,” Srishail Aldahalli, secretary of Jan Sangram Parishat, told The Hindu .
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