Kozhikode: The protesting residents and green activists have organised ‘Sneha sadasu’ in front of the collectorate on Tuesday against the proposed granite mining at Chengodumala in Kottur gram panchayat. The protesters demanded complete withdrawal of the approval given for mining. After the receiving the memorandum of the agitators, district collector U.V Jose assured them to visit the area. “The Sub Collector who submitted the preliminary report has sought a detailed environmental study at Chengodumala before giving the green signal. But that has not been adhered to and permission was given,” alleged V.V Jineesh, the action committee chairman.
A private company, Delta Rock Private Company has bought close to 100 acres of land at Chengodumala and mining has been aimed at 12 acres of land. The company has got approval as per the report submitted by a three-member committee comprising of pollution control board and ground water department officials. But protesters reject the credibility of the committee and demand a detailed study by an expert panel consisting of scientists and green activists. “Chengodumala is an ecologically fragile area. A private person has recently encroached the government land there and demolished the water tank built by gram panchayat to facilitate mining," says Mr Jineesh.
"The village life would be severely affected by mining. It would have repercussion in not only in Kottur alone but also in neighbouring Kayanna, Nochad gram panchayats also," said poet P.K Gopi while speaking at ‘Snehasadasu’. Writer P.K Ramanunni, poet Veerankutty, writer and activist Civic Chandran, T.K. Ragin Lal, M.K Satheeshan, T.P Chandrika and many action committee members spoke.
