Tapal Ganesh is a well-know name in the mining circles in Bellary. He is one of the first men to have taken on the mighty Reddy brothers single-handedly and life has not been easy since then.
Last year, Ganesh was assaulted by unidentified men in Bellary when he was waiting to meet a team set up by the Supreme Court to probe illegal mining.
Ganesh is a happy man today after the arrest of one of the biggest mining barons of India, former Karnataka minister G Janardhan Reddy, by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
"His arrest is only proof that justice is still alive. I would not say that all illegal activities would stop after the arrest, but it only proves that no one is above the law."
"I decided to expose these people in 2006 when I realised that they were into large-scale illegal mining. I care about my state and I realised that the resources were being eaten away by the greedy mining lords," he says.
"I decided to take them on, and life has not been the same since then. Even today I get threats from mining barons. But what does one do? The battle cannot stop, right?" he says.
"I cannot forget that day when some goons had attacked me. I was waiting to meet some members of a committee set up by the Supreme Court. I am still surprised at their audacity that they came and attacked us at such a time. One can just imagine how dangerous the situation has become," he says.
"It is not as though such incidents have stopped. We continue to get threats. It is not comfortable being under police protection all the time, but it has become a way of life for us now," he says.
"I am not a political opponent of the Reddys. All I had said is that there is a scientific way to carry out mining. Their practices were eroding the soil, and all I did was to expose that," he says.
"They were not comfortable with my suggestions, because they would not have made as much money then. Hence, they tried to stop me at every occasion," he says.
"We have full faith in the law and this arrest has only shown that justice is still alive. I salute the Supreme Court for playing such a vital part in it. Yes, justice came a bit late, but it did finally," he says.
"Bellary is a better place today compared with what it was a few months ago. The people of Bellary have suffered enough, and I think it is time they lead a better life," he says.
"The arrests may not control illegal mining completely, but they would surely be a deterrent. However, a lot would depend on the state government which has to implement Lokayukta report immediately," he says.
"That would just prove that the government is serious about curbing this menace and saving our lands from these greedy mining lords," he concludes.
