KOCHI: After a brief hiatus, powerful quarry mafia has restarted razing down Manakkamala, one of the biggest hillocks near Mulanthuruthy, ignoring the strong protest of local residents and green activists. Though the State Environment Department has banned excavating red earth from other parts of Manakkamala, the influential lobby has secured permit for taking 25,000 metre cube (m3) red earth from the hillock.
The approval given by Mining and Geology Department and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority is not based on any scientific facts, allege green activists. “Excavation of red earth, which had to be stopped due to strong protest, was resumed the other day. However, quarrying has to be temporarily stopped after the green groups, people's representatives, residents associations' representatives and activists of various other organisations forcefully prevented it,” said A. Suresh of Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishat.
“Experts who have visited the area raised serious concerns over the permit given for quarrying. Removing huge quantities of red earth will have serious repercussions on the eco system. The hillock and the adjoining vast areas of paddy land are the major water holding sources in the area,” he added.
Razing down hillocks is rampant in eastern parts of the district against which some of the grama panchayats have taken stern action. Several parts of these panchayats are now reeling under acute water scarcity after massive quarrying of red earth.
