State government loosing huge amount of royalty If Bellary district gained notoriety for illegal iron ore mining, Chikmagalur district seems to be following it’s foot steps for unabated illegal sand mining. Sand mining going on blatantly on the banks of river in Chikmagalur district.This surely does not require any proof because everyone is well aware of the ongoing sand mining in banks of almost every major river in the district. Sources say that illegal mining is taking place on the banks of Biranji Halla in Chikmagalur district from last three years and it has incurred in a loss of Rs four to five crore royalty, which was to be paid to the State exchequer. In fact, the Revenue and the Public Work Department officers too agree with the same. If such a huge amount of sand has been extracted from Biranji Halla alone, then what would have been the quantity of sand that has been illegally extracted from River Hemavathi and Bhadra? If one passes through Halasumane, Kattehole towards Yagachi, Gavanahalli and Biranjihalla he/she will definitely be in a state of shock to look at how sand mining has destroyed these places. In the name of sand mining, the paddy fields, coffee and coconut plantations have been destroyed in the worst possible way. The paddy fields and the plantations which should have worn green look, appear like the hillocks of cyanide in Kolar Gold Fields. The farmers, who ploughed their lands for decades together, are lured by money thus giving their land for lease. They are paid Rs 10 to Rs 12 lakh per acre of paddy field and other fertile land, informed a farmer who did not wish to be named. Despite the ban on mining using machineries a few influential persons who are allegedly backed by politicians are involved in mining and filtering the sand using machines at the places like Mavinakere, Somanahalli, Matthikere, Kattehole, Banavara etc. The villagers complain that despite all the hue and cry none of the officials from the district administration have visited the spot so far. “Due to the continuous mining that has been taking place at Mandalamane, Halasamane, Neradi, Mavinakere, Kundur, Yagachi and other places over the last three years, the paddy fields on the banks of the river have vanished. If the mining continues, there are all possibilities of the stream changing its course in future. The heavy movement of tractors and lorries have completely damaged the rural roads,” said a farmer from Mavinakere. Another farmer complained that there are instances of the Police, Revenue, PWD, Mining Department officers questioning those who complain about the illegal mining problem, in a rude manner. If one goes by the district administration’s statement which has said that no permit has been issued for mining in the district. With the question that has been left unanswered is how innumerable trucks and tractors loaded with sand move in the villages as the night creeps in?