Periyapatna:  Villagers have alleged that illegal mining has re-started after it was stopped sometime back and have accused the authorities concerned of turning a blind eye towards it.

Villagers Chandru, Manja, Ravi, Anand and others have complained that the villagers of Ragi Aaladamara, Hasuvinakavalu and surrounding places in the taluk were suffering because of illegal mining.

They have alleged that there is a huge land in Hasuvinakavalu Survey No. 448 and the miners have encroached the government land and land of villagers for illegal mining. They further said that loaded trucks and heavy machinery were passing on roads in villages causing sound and air pollution besides damaging the roads in villages.

The villagers have also alleged that explosives were being used for illegal mining which was creating a sense of fear among the villagers and added that despite all this going on, the officials concerned have kept quiet raising doubts that they (authorities) too are involved in this.

The villagers have urged the authorities concerned to inspect the place and take legal action besides threatening of launching protests if the authorities failed to do so.