Mandya: Urging for a permanent ban on mining and stone quarrying in 20 km radius of Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya District, various organisations have supported the call for Mandya bandh on July 29 (tomorrow), said Cauvery-KRS Ulivigagi Janandolana Samithi President Prof. G.T. Veerappa.

Addressing a press meet yesterday, Prof. Veerappa said that a symbolic Mandya bandh would be observed tomorrow to draw the attention of the Government about the dangers to the KRS Dam due to rampant mining around it.

Pointing out that the bandh has been called to safeguard River Cauvery and the Dam which stores its water — a lifeline of the people of Mandya, he said that various organisations including traders and shop owners, pro Kannada organisations, women and cultural organisations, environmentalists, auto, bus, car and lorry owners and drivers associations, petrol bunk owners and others are supporting the bandh. 

It may be recalled that various associations have been demanding a ban on stone quarrying and use of explosives within a 20 km-radius of the Dam. There are over 80 stone quarrying units, a majority of them owned by politicians in Srirangapatna and Pandavapura taluks. Most of the operators use high-intensity explosives to extract stones. This has been causing tremors and loud sounds near KRS Dam.  

The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) had also submitted a report to the Mandya District Administration with suggestions to prevent the use of high-density explosive substances.