Madikeri: Quarry activities in Elakkanur village, located at the border of Kushalnagar and Somwarpet taluks, have affected the villagers as the daily detonations of explosives have caused significant damage to the homes of local residents, leaving many structures damaged and on the verge of collapse, villagers complained.Despite the dangers, especially during the monsoon, residents continue to live in these houses, villagers complained. The roads connecting Elakkanur to the Old Madalapur tribal community are in poor condition, riddled with potholes, they stated. Despite the public works department limiting truck loads to 16 tons, villagers complained that trucks often carry over 20 tons, exacerbating road damage.Noise pollution and the reckless driving of truck drivers have also harmed local livestock, with one incident involving a truck injuring a buffalo belonging to a temple priest. The excessive truck traffic has left public roads dusty in the heat and muddy in the rain, causing significant inconvenience to residents.Former gram panchayat member Nagaraju voiced the community’s frustration, questioning why they must endure such hardships while others profit. There is a call for officials to take action, particularly against trucks registered in Kerala, to alleviate the situation.
