CH NEWS, KOLAR
High tension prevailed near Level Crossing No. 7 in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) on Tuesday as the taluk administration initiated an eviction drive targeting approximately 20 homes belonging to former Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML) workers to make way for the Urigaum Railway Overbridge (ROB) project.
The operation, executed under heavy police security, triggered widespread distress and protests from affected families who have resided in the area for decades. Weeping residents pleaded with revenue officials, stating that authorities launched demolitions without examining tenure documents or granting reasonable time to seek legal remedies after serving notices barely a week prior. While acknowledging the need for public infrastructure, the families questioned the justification of rendering retired gold mine workers homeless without prior rehabilitation.
Kolar Member of Parliament Mallesh Babu defended the clearance, stating that removing the 20 structures was critical for advancing the railway overbridge project. He noted that among the affected homes, only four were authorized BGML staff quarters, and their occupants would be rehabilitated by the City Municipal Council, while the remaining 16 structures were unauthorized encroachments on project land.
Countering the administration’s stance, senior advocate and ‘Save KGF’ President Jyotibasu termed the abrupt evictions inhumane. He criticized officials for labeling mine workers’ descendants as encroachers and giving them no grace period. Jyotibasu warned that if the authorities do not immediately halt the demolitions and provide suitable alternative housing to all 20 families, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) will be filed before the High Court of Karnataka.