New Delhi: After the Supreme Court order to stop illegal mining in Bellary, atleast 17 lakh workers have been left jobless.

The tillable land has also become infertile forcing the jobless peasants to dependent on payments. The recent protest march by truck drivers association in the district also speak volumes of the agony of the unemployed people there.

“Drivers, truck owners, labourers, nearly three lakh people have no work, we will all be in poverty soon. Our demand is that the Supreme Court should punish the guilty. The miners should be allowed to work,” said Raju, Karignur Truck Drivers Association.

In Karagnur village, the ban has created a stir as it the men of the village who look after the children, while women of the village are on a lookout for jobs.

“We’ll all be in poverty soon, there is no work for us for the past few weeks, I have a loan to pay for my truck and with no work, I think I’ll lose my truck very soon,” said Lakshmanan, Truck Driver, Karignur Village, Bellary District.

Rahul Baldota, executive director, MSPL, private mining company, Bellary blamed the Reddy brothers for the situation.

“Out of our total area almost 60 per cent we have rehabilitated and we have planted 18 lakh trees. Now you may see someone in the industry who has looted everything but you have the other side also. You need to keep both in perspective,” said Rahul Baldota.

Many in Karignur are still in hope that the SC will rethink over the verdict and let the clean mining companies operate there, while punishing the accused or they would be forced to migrate to bigger cities like Bangalore in search of livelihood.