HC notice on sand mining in Tunga river

BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court on Friday ordered notice to the state government and the Ballari district administration in PIL complaining of illegal sand mining in the Tungabhadra river.
A vacation division bench headed by Justice B V Nagarathna issued notice to three contractors allegedly involved in illegal sand quarrying.
A Yallanagouda, a JD(S) functionary from Siruguppa town, and seven others claimed that illegal quarrying of sand from the Tungabhadra riverbed at Hachcolli village and its transportation by trucks was seriously weakening the bridge across the river, the only transport link from Siruguppa to Ballari, Haveri and Dharwad districts.According to the petitioners, the contractors are using mechanized equipment as against manual quarrying operation permitted under the agreement and also undertaking quarrying at will.