Laiqh A. Khan KOLLEGAL (Chamarajanagar district): After a 16-year lull, the forest areas of Kollegal region on Karnataka's border with Tamil Nadu will begin to resonate with the sound of explosives and the drone of excavators and trucks as quarrying for the valuable black granite is all set to resume. The Government of Karnataka's Department of Mines and Geology has issued No Objection Certificates to 29 applicants seeking to carry out quarrying activities in revenue land adjoining the forest areas, where large deposits exist. About seven applicants, who have secured a clearance from even the local Revenue authorities, are busy mobilising men and equipment for its excavation. Though use of explosives is yet to begin, earthwork and excavation have begun. With the remaining licence-holders awaiting the nod of the Revenue authorities in Kollegal, it is only a matter of time before quarrying activity resumes in full scale. The black granite of Kollegal, which commanded a huge international market, had contributed significantly to the exports. The applicants include not only the local people, but also businessmen from Tamil Nadu and Bangalore, who have taken the revenue land on lease. The Government has permitted quarrying in revenue land in Ponnachi, Changadi, Meenyam and Bayalur, which is located along the fringes of the vast forest areas of Kollegal and the adjoining M.M. Hills, Deputy Tahsildar of Kollegal Rajashekar Murthy told The Hindu. The State Government's decision to issue the NOC comes in the wake of the revoking of a ban on quarrying that came into force in 1994 when it was suspected that explosives used to blast rocks were falling into the hands of forest bandit Veerappan. Blanket ban The gelatin sticks used by Veerappan and his gangsters to kill 22 policemen in the Palar blasts in 1993 was suspected to have originated from the quarries of the region. Bowing to pressure from the Special Task Force, the Government imposed a blanket ban on quarrying in the region. But, the clamour for the resumption of quarrying began soon after Veerappan was gunned down in October 2004. The quarry owners had cited the growing unemployment to press for lifting of the ban. About 55 companies were carrying out quarrying operations in the region prior to the ban and providing employment to about 5,000 people. Resentment But, Forest Department officials resent the Government's decision to resume quarrying in the region. Though Government's permission for quarrying is restricted to revenue land, its close proximity to forest areas and the likely threat posed to wildlife has become a matter of concern.