Granite mining, removal continues in Panoor

KANNUR: Activists under the Janakeeya Samithi (People’s Panel) in Kannur on Friday complained to the district police chief to immediately stop illegal mining in granite quarries of Kadungampoyil in Kunnothpramba panchayath, near Panoor. The activists also alleged that even after the district chairman of the legal service authority (DLSA) ordered the closure of the quarries, mining as well as shifting of the granites were continuing in the area.

Nearly 20 quarries are functioning in Kunnathoparamba and neighbouring Thrippangottur panchayat. Four months ago, the district collector had intervened to stop the mining. Nearly 10 vehicles were seized from the area after the owners as well as the labourers fled the scene. “The quarries are functioning with the support of the politicians as wells as officers. The officers shoot off a stop memo whenever a petition is filed. However, they are not bothered to stop the mining in the area,” said Janakeeya samithi secretary E. Maneesh.

The DLSA had also issued a directive to the district collector to immediately intervene to stop the mining in the ecologically sensitive area. The long time demand for a police aid post in the area was also not fulfilled, said Mr Maneesh, who filed a complaint at Kolavallur police station on Friday night.