Kochi: A petition filed before Kerala High Court has sought a probe into the issuance of Kerala Land Amendment Act and Rules Bill 2013 by the state government. The petitioner Benny K. T. claims indiscriminate exploitation of mines and minerals on the land assigned for other purposes under it without having a license and consequential environmental and ecological disaster. He says even though he brought it to the notice of the concerned officials, they took no action.
The same is happening even after the high court set aside the government order and the Supreme Court recently criticised the state on the quarry issue. On the other hand, they are permitting them to function on government assigned land. Moreover, on inquiry, it was revealed that they were operating in government assigned land not only in Thrissur district but the entire state. The petitioner sought directives to cancel the patta issued to persons who violated the conditions of assignment as well as the rules it was granted. He further contended that the value of the granite quarried from them under the Act should be recovered from them.
