Bengaluru: Satyagraha is one of the non-violent tools popularised by Mahatma Gandhi to pressurise the British administrative machinery. As history proves, it was a successful movement. On Monday, activists from Mandya used the same tool to stop the proposed trial blast in the KRS dam area by scientists from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune. Bowing to the pressure, the district administration cancelled the trial blast.
It all started with Kaveri Niravari Nigam Limited planning a trial blast at the KRS dam area to find out whether stone mining can be allowed in the 20-km radius in the dam’s area.
This irked the volunteers of the Cauvery People’s Movement, which is fighting against the mining activities and proposed Disney Land project in the KRS dam’s vicinity. As per the schedule, the Kaveri Niravari Nigam Limited planned the trial blast starting Monday. Scientists from Pune had arrived, but the members of the Rajya Raitha Sangha, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, various pro-Kannada organisations and progressive thinkers gathered in front of the dam and staged a protest. They urged the scientists to return.
Understanding the emotions behind the protest, the scientists returned and informed the district administration that they will not carry out the study.
Progressive thinker and activist P Mallesh, Rajya Raitha Sangha general secretary Badagalapura Nagendra, Sunanda Jayaram, Guruprasad Keregodu of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, and other leaders participated in the protest.
They alleged that the trial blast was planned as per the instructions of district in-charge minister C S Puttaraju, who has a stake in the mining activities in the area.
