Bengaluru: Following massive explosives at a stone quarry in Shivamogga district which killed seven people, a gelatine stick explosion near the quarry at Chikkaballapura on Tuesday has made the government disturbed. Now the state government is contemplating to regulate illegal quarry after back to back mishap.
First, it occurred in Shivamogga district, today gelatine stick explosion at Chikkaballapura district, these incidents shows how illegal stone quarries operating in the state rampantly.
According to the statistics released by the Mines and Geology reveals that since three years there are 1083 illegal stone quarries have been traced, in which during 2017-18 there are 404 illegal quarries have been traced and registered 114 cases against mine owners and recovered Rs. 6.13 crore penalty.
In 2018-19, the government has registered a case against 413 illegal quarries, booked 108 cases and the government has recovered the fine of Rs. 12.13 crore from the mine owners. Like in 2019-20, Mines and Geology department has traced 266 illegal quarries, registered 117 cases against them and collected the fine of Rs. 9.08 crore.
Govt is contemplating to bring a new legislation
The government has awakened following back to back explosions in stone quarry in the state and decided to bring a new law to regulate and usage of explosives for stone quarry. The government will give permission to the license holders to use explosives and also give training to the people who work in mines, says Minister for Mines and Geology, Murugesh Nirani.
The government has also decided to establish a Training and Mining School in the State, so it would help the people who are involved in mining activities to get proper training in usage and management of gelatine sticks and explosives.
Meanwhile, the government has ordered detailed mapping on the entry of explosives to the state, by doing so the government can collect complete and accurate information on the transportation of gelatine sticks and explosives.
How illegal stone quarries operating in the state?
Mines and Geology department officials stated that there are 2000 illegal stone quarries operating in the state. However, the CAG report has pointed a finger at the mines and geology department for its failure to control or regulate illegal stone quarries in the state.
Mines and Geology department has conducted a joint survey with the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), the survey findings reveal that there are 532 illegal quarries operating in the state, satellite images have substantiated this finding.
According to the Mines and Geology department, the department has given permission to 450 decorative stone quarries and 300 general stone quarries across the state. However, 2000 quarries have been operating illegally, says an official of the Mines and Geology department. CAG report stated that license holders of stone quarries doing stone mining beyond their sanctioned area and few of them are doing quarrying even after expiry of license.
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According to the CAG report, illegal quarries are operating in Dakshina Kannada, Vijayapura, Belagavi, Bengaluru Rural and Chamarajanagara districts. The state has 9,571,693,000 tone granite stone resources and spread across a 4,200 square km area.
An official in the mines and geology department says that illegal stone quarries rampant in the state due to nexus between mines and geology department officials, stone quarry owners and transporters of explosives.
Due to a shortage of staff in the Mines and Geology department, the department has unable to inspect stone quarries on a regular basis. In addition, illegal quarries operate by using political pressure. Thus it would be difficult to regulate illegal quarries in the state, officials said.
How is the transportation gelatine sticks?
Gelatine sticks have been used as explosives in stone quarries. License is mandatory to use and carrying of gelatine sticks. The license has been given for one year period, it has to be renewed after its expiry. The detonator has to be transported separately. A separate license has to be taken to procure, storage and transportation of explosives. One has to take the necessary licenses to manage and procure the explosives. Mines and Geology department director, joint director and senior geology officers only can issue licenses for stone quarry. In the state, large scale stone quarry mining is functioning in Kolar and Chikaballapura districts, like small scale stone quarry mining, which is operating in Kalaburagi, Belagavi and Chamaraganagara districts.
Stone quarry accidents in the state
A massive explosion took place in a stone quarry in Shivamogga district on January 21, it has considered the biggest mishap in the state and took the lives of 7 people. The impact of this massive explosive has reached surrounding villages and districts too. After that gelatine stick explosion in Chikkaballapura district has taken the lives of 6 people. Minor accidents have been reported in stone quarries in the recent past, but such incidents have not taken any death toll as happened in Shivamogga and Chikkaballapura districts.
