At least 10 lorry loads of sand is lifted daily from the river

Rs. 68-lakh fine collected from people indulging in illegal quarrying

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Banned: Illegal sand quarrying going on on the banks of Shimsha river near Kokkare Bellur.

BANGALORE: For centuries, painted storks and pelicans have converted Kokkare Bellur, a small hamlet on the banks of the Shimsha river, their abode and share a unique relationship with villagers. Rampant and illegal sand mining on the river course, despite a ban, has threatened to affect this symbiotic relationship between the winged beauties and man.

Even though the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 to curb illegal sand mining, it is learnt that at least 10 lorry loads of sand is lifted daily from the river very close to the village, and much more from Thore Chakkanahalli on the other bank. Illegal sand mining has been going on in the river bed starting from Margondanahalli to Iglur, an approximate distance of around 80 km, a fact confirmed by the officials too.

Sand mining in the area, conservationists fear, will affect the birdlife in the long run as the water turns turbid. Once the water turns turbid, aquatic life, especially the plant life gets affected, which will in turn affect the entire food cycle. Besides, the shoreline of the river also gets damaged permanently, they point out. Kokkare Bellur has been rated by the Birdlife International and Bombay Natural History Society among the 466 sites in the country rich in birdlife.

“When officials conduct surprise visits, the vehicles vanish from the spot, leaving behind the sand removed from the bed that nobody claims ownership. Most of the lorries laden with sand leave the area in the night and reach their destination, which is usually Bangalore,” a villager said.

According to K. Manu of Mysore Amateur Naturalists (MAN), birds at Kokkare Bellur have a foraging area of around of around 120 km in radius in which there are nearly 130 important water bodies. “The Shimsha river is an important source of water to many water bodies in the foraging area. Illegal sand mining could affect the birdlife,” he added.

In fact, he feels that the damage to the river bed has already been done owing to illegal sand mining. “Just a few years ago, villagers would grow watermelons on the sand bed. But the exploitation of river bed had left the area redundant for growing melons,” Mr. Manu pointed out.

“We have totally banned sand mining in the area and trying our level best to contain it. But the involvement of locals is hindering the enforcement,” Mandya Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Prasad told The Hindu. Claiming that the illegal activity had reduced, he said: “When I receive a complaint about illegal quarrying regularly and surprise checks are conducted.” The district administration has imposed a penalty of Rs. 68 lakh on people indulging in illegal quarrying, especially in the Shimsha river and Malavalli region during the last six months alone, Mr. Prasad said.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/03/stories/2008010353950500.htm