The vacation bench of the High Court on Friday ordered issuance of notice to the state government in a PIL filed by villagers of Hachholli and Siruguppa seeking directions to prevent illegal quarrying and transportation of sand from the Tungabhadra river.
The petitioners have contended that they are worried about the safety of the bridge constructed across the river where trucks carrying sand beyond the prescribed limit are moving. The frequent plying of sand-laden trucks could weaken the bridge, which is the only route connecting Siruguppa with other places.
The Public Works Department, while entering into an agreement with the contractors for extracting sand, had specifically barred the use of heavy machines on the river bed. But a few contractors like V Veeresh, Devendrappa Gouda M Biradar and G Nagappa have been using heavy machines and are extracting sand even in restricted areas, they contend. Though the petitioners have given a representation to government officials, including the police and tahsildar, they have failed to stop these contractors from using heavy machinery, they said. The petitioners have sought directions to the government, including the Department of Commerce and Industries, and to the Department of Mines and Geology, to restrain the contractors from illegal extraction and transportation of sand. A division bench, comprising Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice S Sujatha, ordered notices to the contractors in the matter.
The petitioners have contended that they are worried about the safety of the bridge constructed across the river where trucks carrying sand beyond the prescribed limit are moving. The frequent plying of sand-laden trucks could weaken the bridge, which is the only route connecting Siruguppa with other places.
The Public Works Department, while entering into an agreement with the contractors for extracting sand, had specifically barred the use of heavy machines on the river bed. But a few contractors like V Veeresh, Devendrappa Gouda M Biradar and G Nagappa have been using heavy machines and are extracting sand even in restricted areas, they contend. Though the petitioners have given a representation to government officials, including the police and tahsildar, they have failed to stop these contractors from using heavy machinery, they said. The petitioners have sought directions to the government, including the Department of Commerce and Industries, and to the Department of Mines and Geology, to restrain the contractors from illegal extraction and transportation of sand. A division bench, comprising Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice S Sujatha, ordered notices to the contractors in the matter.