Says Puttannaiah responsible for illegal mining at Pandavapura

Mandya: Mandya MP C.S. Puttaraju has rubbished allegations made by Deputy Conservator of Forests S. Dhananjay accusing the MP of allegedly preventing Forest Officials from discharging their duties of stopping illegal mining activities at Chinnakurali and Honaganahalli GP limits in Pandavapura. Addressing press persons yesterday, the MP said that he had visited the place on June 1 and tried to bring the situation under control when the quarry owner and Forest Officials were indulged in a wordy duel and added that none of the Officers were threatened.

Our SGT Association Company has been doing mining on lands belonging in Sy. Nos. 80 and 127 in Chinakurali and Honaganahalli Gram Panchayat limits. The Forest Officials have been causing problems unnecessarily. He also accused one Nagadhushan of the Department of Mines and Geology as the trouble maker.

Puttaraju also took a dig at MLA K.S. Puttannaiah holding the MLA responsible for the illegal mining reported in Pandavapura and surrounding areas and supporting the RTI activists. He said the number of mining companies had increased from 18 to 48 after Puttannaiah was elected as MLA from Pandavapura constituency.

Puttaraju also invited Puttannaiah for an open debate and said that he would unmask the MLA and also challenged him to prove any one allegation against him.

ZP Member Ashok, Thammegowda, Shanthala, Gamanahalli Prakash, TP President Beerappa and others were present.