Ore-laden trucks roar on highways again in K'taka

Even as the high political drama between the Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yedyurappa's group and mining lobby led by 'Reddy brothers' is slowly waning, iron ore and manganese lorries are back on the highways mainly between Hubli-Karwar, making life miserable for road users.

Fatal highway accidents have become everyday phenomena and the death of six people coming from Udupi near Ankola on November 17 last has sent shock waves among the road users after an ore-laden lorry mowed a Tempo Trax killing all the inmates on the spot. Hundreds of these high capacity trucks, which ceased to ply during the political crisis as the officials, free from political interference, had taken strict vigil on over-loaded transportation of the mining materials, are now back on the roads and are moving without any hindrance. This shows the hold the mining lobby has over the administration in the state.

In fact Hubli-Karwar Highway and the road leading towards Hubli city from Bellary mines are so full of ore-laden trucks that there is no place for passenger vehicles like buses and other small vehicles.

The time consumed to reach Karwar from Hubli has become more than five hours while normal time needed is just four hours. Prakash, a regular traveller on the highway, highlighted the 'agony' that the passengers undergo during the travel. ''It is beyond any description. We travel keeping our lives in hands. There is no guarantee that you will reach your destination safely on this road due to the killer trucks,'' he said.

-- (UNI) -- 22MS2.xml

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