Trial blast at Baby Betta will be halted, min assures farmers

Mandya: The district administration assured protesting farmers that a trial blast at Baby Betta near the KRS dam will not be carried out till mid-July.
It also assured that five farmers’ leaders from the district will be allowed to meet CM Siddaramaiah to communicate their concerns over the safety of the KRS dam.
An assurance in this regard was given by district minister N Cheluvarayaswamy during a meeting with the farmers’ leaders.
It may be recalled that the farmers have been holding protests near the KRS dam and in Mandya city for the last three days urging the district administration to stop the proposed trial blast at Baby Betta. The district administration is preparing for the trial blast by drilling holes at the site using earthmovers.
Speaking after the meeting with farmers, and their leaders, Cheluvarayaswamy stated that there is no question of compromising the safety, stability, and security of the dam.
“The state govt has not fixed any date for the trial blasts. I will hold discussions with the district administration and law department in this regard. The issue will come for a hearing on July 15. Our decision will be presented before the court after discussing with the CM and advocate general,” he said.
“Farmers stated that they will not agree to the trial blasts. We will also take the opinion of the advocate general, dam safety committee and senior officials. It will be presented before the court,” he said.
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha district unit president Kempugowda, and state vice-president Prasanna Gowda urged the district administration to come out with a law banning all kinds of mining activities in the 25km radius of the KRS dam. They stated that the govt should come out with a concrete law on protecting our dams. “Our concern is not only KRS dam; but all dams across the state,” he said.