Kochi: Southern bench of National Green Tribunal has stayed razing Manakkamala, the vast hillocks spread across more than 40 acres near Mulanthuruthy.
The people’s action council - Manakkamala Samrakshana Janakeeya Samithi - approached the NGT against quarrying of red earth from the hillocks which will have severe ecological impacts.
The Tribunal issued the stay order based on a petition filed by the people’s action council against the environmental clearance given by the Mining and Geology Department and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority for removing red earth from Manakkamala. The final hearing is scheduled for November 25.
Meanwhile, a team from Cochin University of Science and Technology headed by Dr N. Chandramohan Kumar has initiated a scientific study on its environmental impacts.
“A comprehensive study on the ecological impacts of quarrying from hillocks is the first of its kind in the state. Ahead of initiating the study, our team visited the site the other day. Manakkamala is an ecologically very fragile area and razing the large hillocks will have irreparable impacts on the adjoining vast areas of paddy land, the major water holding sources,” said Dr Kumar.
Activists of the people’s council are relieved and happy over the Tribunal’s directive as it is the continuous protests, hunger strikes, human chains and public rallies they organised which have finally succeeded.
The excavation started a year ago after the quarry contractors secured permits for removing more than 25,000 cubic metres (m3) red earth. Though quarrying began, they had to stop it following strong protest. Later they approached High Court to secure order for resuming the sand mining. Though permission was granted, mining could not be resumed due to strong protests.
