Blasts at the Arkavathy layout give residents sleepless nights

Blasts at the Arkavathy layout give residents sleepless nights
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Bangloreans Beware, if you plan to own a site in Arkavathy Layout, then it’s time for a rethought. The already prevailing problem of uncertainty in the issuance of sites is now coupled with the illegal stone quarry mining operations.

The incessant mining operations, carried on just 20 metres away from this residential area, would give one sleepless nights. It’s a familiar scene at the Venkateshwara Layout, which falls under the Byatarayanapura City Municipal Corporation.

The mining and constant blasting has become a nightmare for the 1,000 plus households in the locality. The stone quarry is situated in the middle of the Arkavathy layout.

On one side it opens to the Sri Venkateshwara colony, which was Venkatesharahalli before it was formed into a layout. The layout’s roads have yet to see tar while the quarrying vehicles have reduced them to a pathetic condition.

Interestingly, the Department of Mines and Geology at this juncture, reveals the illegality of the quarry and promises legal action against them.

Additional director T N Venugopal informed this website’s newspaper that the department has not issued any licence for the stone quarrying.

“It’s illegal quarrying. We have not given any permission,” Venugopal says.

“According to the rules, any area in which dynamite blasting takes place should be 200 mts away from residential areas, roads, temples and any kind of human habitation. We will cancel the licence and action will be taken on the illegal quarrying,” he added.

However, local residents are not very optimistic about the government action. Vijay Chowhan, a resident, said the quarrying had been going on for several years and none of the department officials had inspected the area.

“We are not able to live in this area. Surprise dynamite blasts have become nightmare for the 1,000 plus residents,” Chowhan said.

Many buildings in the area have experienced tremors of the blasts and walls have weakened considerably.

Another resident, S Nagarjun questions: “How can anyone carry out quarrying near a residential area? More than a thousand people live in this four-year-old lay-out. We cannot allow our children to play outside, as the explosions can take place any time, without warning,” he added.

Residents also allege that the quarrying has damaged many houses in the area.

“Besides, the ground water level has been dipping with every passing day and the authorities have not taken any steps to stop this activity. We had heard that July 31 was the last date for the mining, but the blasts on the very next morning shattered our hopes,” grieves Venkatamurthy, a local resident.