Illegal quarrying caused recent landslide at Nandi Hills near Bengaluru: Activists

Team Udayavani, Aug 29, 2021, 11:09 AM IST

Bengaluru: The environmentalists have stated that the landslide that occurred at the Nandi Hills, located near Bengaluru, was triggered by the illegal stone crushing units that operate in the region.

It is said that stone quarrying units are functional at 100 places near Nandi Hills.  “Unhindered construction activities in the guise of eco-tourism have also been taking its toll on the hills. Several trees have been cut for development work, resulting in soil erosion,” environmentalist Chidananda Murthy said.

Former Indian Forest Service officer A N Yellapa Reddy said that Nandi Hills is among the country’s oldest rock beds. Tourism should also be restricted here. But, the government does not care.

However, the government’s official stand is that the landslide was caused by heavy rain.