THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The tragic death of two persons at a quarry in Sasthanpara near Marayamuttom on the outskirts of the city on Friday has brought to light the illegal activities and also the lack of security in the quarries functioning in the district. All the four quarries and five crusher units, which includes the quarry at Sasthanpara, in Kunnathukal panchayat of Anavoor village, are alleged to be functioning without a licence. Even after the panchayat issued a stop memo, these quarries allegedly continue to operate under the guise of a High Court order that has been obtained by one of the owners.
Two persons were killed and seven injured when large pieces of rock fell on them while they were working at the quarry. While one worker died on the spot, the other died on the way to the hospital.
The accident has brought to light the gross violations of rules happening at these quarries. It has prompted the district administration and revenue officials besides the police to visit the sites and consider measures to stop illegal activities. “After the stop memo was issued and their licences were not taken up for renewal, one of the quarry owners approached the High Court. The court quashed the panchayat’s order.
The HC order is being used by all the quarries carry on with their illegal activities,” said Thanalvedi general secretary S Unnikrishnan. Thanalvedi is one of the organisations that has been fighting against illegal quarry activities in the region. Meanwhile, Kunnathukal panchayat president Arun H S told ‘Express’ that the quarries functioning in the panchayat are doing so without an appropriate licence. “The owner of the quarry where the accident happened had applied for a licence. But we did not issue one since he did not get clearance from the Mining and Geology department, the Pollution Control Board and other departments,” he said.
Arun also alleged the officials of the Revenue Department, Pollution Control Board and Mining and Geology Department are in cahoots with the quarry mafia. He said the panchayat had sent official letters to all the departments regarding its decision to not issue licence highlighting the environment, health and other issues in the region. The president said a panchayat sub-committee had pointed out widespread destruction and also health hazards in the region. The officials have completely neglected the panchayat’s orders and studies, Arun said.
Finding fault with the panchayat, Unnikrishnan said have done nothing and are only making mere statements. “The panchayat says licence has not been issued. If such a licence had not been issued, then why is it that they did not stop the activities using police force?” he said.
Pointing out the accident has not been the first at the quarry site, he alleged as many as 15 people have died in the quarries till now and all these were either reported as accidents or never reported.
Satheeshkumar (who has been fighting against the quarry and filed cases in the many courts for the last many years), alleged no political party supported the real cause. “We have been fighting for the past many years.
Even threats were made to our lives. We have approached the High Court against the illegal quarry activities. Despite all the protests, the panchayat, district as well the revenue officials have not done anything,” he said. He said fake cases have been registered against those who have come out against the illegal activities.
Saying a criminal case should be registered against the officials, Western Ghat Protection Ekopana Samithi convenor Shaji Peringadavila demanded all the quarries should be shut down in the region.
Collector’s Visit
District Collector K Vasuki who reached Sasthanpara soon after the incident visited two quarries and also some houses in the region. After the visit, the Collector said the issue is a serious one. “Documents need to be verified before any action is initiated,” she said. Meanwhile, Parassala MLA C K Hareendranath said the quarries are functioning without necessary security measures. He added action should be taken against the quarries which are functioning illegally. Moreover, he said a proposal to develop Sasthanpara into a bio-diversity region is on the anvil.