Allaying the apprehensions of the people of Kolar in Karnataka, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.

The Centre on Tuesday sought to quell protests by locals in Kolar, Karnataka, against reports of earmarking abandoned gold mines of the district for dumping nuclear waste.

A former employee of the Bharath Gold Mines Limited (BGML), Panir Selvan, 57, was the latest to succumb to the deadly disease, silicosis, when he died on Friday at the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF).

Rumours that waste from Koodankulam nuclear power plant near Chennai will be dumped at the gold mine pits here has sent shock waves in this town.

It is said that Solicitor General R Nariman submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the Central government has decided to use the pits at the KGF gold mines, which have long remained unused, as dumping yard for the waste created at the nuclear power plant at Koodankulam.

Nariman had added in the affidavit that the pits would be dug again, and concrete walls built on the sides of the tunnels to prevent leak of the nuclear rays

KRISHNAGIRI: Farmers attached to the Tamizhaga Vivsaiygal Sangam (TVS) on Wednesday urged the state government to prevent Karnataka from diverting water from the Thenpenniyar river alleging that the move would cause severe water shortage in five districts of TN.

In an emergency meeting on Wednesday in Savalur village, TVS state secretary K M Ramagounder said a new plan chalked out by the Karnataka government to divert water from the Varathur lake — situated across the Thenpenniyar river — to 200 lakes in the Kolar Gold Fields area would severely affect irrigation in five districts.

State government loosing huge amount of royalty If Bellary district gained notoriety for illegal iron ore mining, Chikmagalur district seems to be following it’s foot steps for unabated illegal sand mining.

Sand mining going on blatantly on the banks of river in Chikmagalur district.This surely does not require any proof because everyone is well aware of the ongoing sand mining in banks of almost every major river in the district.

Struggle continues: In KGF, no efforts are made to augment water supply

During the begining of the monsoon heavy winds cause dust to fly from huge mounds which comprise waste from the gold mines which has been accumulated over a number of years.

Various works at a cost of Rs four crore will be undertaken in the town to over come water problems during summer, said S N Krishnaiah Setty, Chairman of Water Board.

Water Board chairman S N Krishnaiah Setty paid a visit to the Bethamangala reservoir that supplies water to KGF.

Mahesh Kulkarni / Bangalore September 30, 2010, 0:25 IST

For former employees, there is still a pot of gold at the end of the Kolar rainbow - if only the govt allows them to look for it

For most of the past decade, there has been precious little glitter for employees at the Kolar gold fields.