After a special grama sabha of a ward near Mookunnimala in Pallichal Panchayat unanimously passed a resolution against quarrying in the Mookunnimala region, the panchayat has called one more special grama sabha of another ward on May 15 after similar demands for convening grama sabhas were raised by the people.
Confirming that a special grama sabha has been called in ward 2 with respect to Mookunnimala quarry issue, panchayat president K Rajesh told Express that this was following the demand of the people residing in the ward.
He also said that the grama sabha that was convened in ward 20 last week had unanimously passed a resolution against quarrying in the region. The participants of the grama sabha had also asked the panchayat to cancel the licences issued and also not to renew licences henceforth.
Rajesh said that a panchayat committee will be convened after the two special grama sabhas. ‘’A decision will be taken at the committee with regard to the resolutions passed in the two special grama sabhas,’’ he said.
In the first special grama sabha of ward 20, it was decided that the panchayat should call an all-party meet including the quarry owners. The grama sabha, which had a good participation, also decided to visit the quarries this week.
Meanwhile, Mookkunnimala Samrakshana Samithi leaders said that they were waiting for the report of the District Collector that would be submitted in the High Court shortly. They stressed that they would not retract from their agitation and would intensify their protest until all the quarries in the region are closed.
The District Collector had last month said that he would submit a report before the High Court after a consensus could not be reached in the talks between the Mookkunnimala Samrakshana Samithi and the quarry owners. The Collector had invited the Samithi leaders and quarry owners for a meeting after the High Court issued a directive to take necessary steps with regard to the complaints raised by the people in the region.
The residents in Pallichal Panchayat for the last many months have been in a continuous struggle. They had even decided to go in for a widespread agitation, including a sit-in in front of the Secretariat, until the quarry units are shut down.