KOZHIKODE: With countless illegal quarries operating in early hours to evade inviting the attention of authorities in the high-ranges of the district, the activists are scared that a catastrophe like one took place in Thiruvananthapuram, is in the offing here too. According to them the villages of Kodanchery, Koodaranji, Thiruvambadi, Karassery, Nellipoyil, Tinur, Vilangad, Maruthonkara and Kavilummpara have many quarries which, though officially abandoned, operate illegally. Only four quarries have the necessary licenses including that of mining and geology department, but countless quarries are functioning with the connivance of officials, allege activists.
Environmental activist T.V. Rajan told DC that the quarry owners are operating across the region despite the ban on quarrying. Only few quarries have satisfied the stipulations insisted by the Supreme Court directives, he said, adding that though the newly constituted District Environment Impact Assessment Authority had recently cleared 11 new applications for quarrying, the body had lost its validity as two of its members were found lacking stipulated credentials. "Huge trucks (tippers) with a capacity to carry more than ten tons (10,000 kg) of sand and granite chips rushing through the narrow village roads of the agrarian hamlets is a regular scene", he added.
It is to be recalled that at Maruthonkara panchayath, where 15 quarries were functioning illegally earlier misusing the quarrying licence allotted to other quarries, the panchayat secretary who issued a stop memo had to run for life after taking leave. Meanwhile in the wake of the quarry tragedy in Thiruvananthapuram, the district administration here has directed to various departments to take immediate action against any kind of illegal mining activity. District collector U.V. Jose told DC that a special squad recently formed has been directed to act soon focusing at illegal quarrying. "Directions have been issues across the check if there any such illegal quarrying ia on", he added.
Court to hear activists Wednesday
As the Collector's order to set up police check-post and CCTV cameras at the illegal quarries in Panur was defied, activists under Janakeeya Vedi have approached the Munsif court, Thalassery, on the same. They say only 13 quarries have licence and nearly 200 are functioning in the district. A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday. "We approached the Kuthuparamba Munsif court when the police failed to set up a check-post or CCTV cameras on the premises of the granite quarries in Narikkottumal near Panoor. The district administration has given licence for only 13 quarries and evaluations are going on in the case of 19 others. Of them, checks are known to be completed in seven. However, there are nearly 200 quarries functioning in the district," said E. Maneesh, secretary of Janakeeya Vedi, that took out a campaign against the illegal mining.
According to the activists, quarries are functioning in Irikkur, Kolayad, Peravoor, Cherupuzha, Pering-om, Alakode, Eramam-kuttoor, Patyam, Naduvil, Ayyamk-unnu, Payyavur, Kanichal, Kelam, Thrippangottur and Kunnothuparamba panchayats and Iritty, Sreekantapuram, Mattannur and Kuthuparamba municipalities. "The works at the quarries start at 5 am or before and ends by 9.30 am, before the office timings. If caught also, they get away with mild punishment and there are no strict measures taken against the quarry mafia. We hope, in the light of these recent accidents, some curbs will be put on them," added Mr Maneesh.
