Mysuru: Rampant illegal extraction of fertile soil from the backwaters and riverbed of the Chikkahole reservoir is posing a threat to the reservoir’s safety in Chamarajanagar district.Driven by high demand, racketeers are allegedly extracting and transporting the soil to Talawadi and other parts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The digging of deep pits has reduced the reservoir’s water-holding capacity, raising concerns about its long-term sustainability. The activity continues despite its potential impact on the reservoir and surrounding areas.With water levels having receded and parts of the reservoir bed drying up, those involved are allegedly using earth-moving machinery to remove silt and fertile soil from the riverbed and transport it for commercial purposes.The nutrient-rich silt is in high demand as it is believed to improve agricultural and horticultural productivity. According to local sources, a tractor-load of fertile soil fetches around Rs 1,000 for delivery near lakes, Rs 2,000 within a half-kilometre radius of reservoirs, and up to Rs 5,000 for destinations located more than 5km away.Activists of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha alleged that racketeers enter the Chikkahole reservoir backwaters through BG Colony and illegally extract fertile soil from the riverbed before transporting it elsewhere.According to guidelines issued by the department of mines and geology, only farmers in the command area may remove silt from lakes under the minor irrigation department for agricultural purposes after obtaining prior permission from local authorities. Commercial use of the extracted soil, including for land levelling, road works and other activities, is prohibited.Despite these restrictions, the illegal extraction of fertile soil from the reservoir for commercial purposes has become rampant, local activists alleged.Chamarajanagar Farmers Federation general secretary Baradanapura Nagaraj urged the district administration and police to take immediate steps to curb the illegal activity.Speaking to TOI, SP M Mutturaj said officials had not yet received any complaints regarding the extraction and transportation of soil for commercial purposes to Talawadi in Tamil Nadu. “I will direct my staff to act swiftly if complaints are received from the public or farmers’ organisations,” he said.
