THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Defying the stop memo issued by the Mining and Geology Department on the quarries at Mookunnimala last week, mining activities still continue in the hill. Most of the quarry activities are done in the night and early morning. Apart from this, the Mookunnimala Samrakshana Samithi had come out against issuing such a memo, asking why a complete ban was not imposed on the mining activities when the licences of all quarries have expired.
Though the stop memo has been issued, the people in the region at Edacode told Express that they heard blasts in the night and even early morning. Trucks could be seen going out of the quarries, they said and added that the officials had not taken action though they were intimated about the activities.
Alleging that the authorities were hand in glove with the quarry mafia, Mookunnimala Samrakshana Samithi joint convenor Surendra Kumar said, ‘’We had informed the officials at the Collectorate and the Mining and Geology Department when the blasts were heard from the quarries. But the officials asked us to contact the Taluk or village office. However, the officials there asked us to contact the police, who say that they cannot act unless they get a direction from the district administration.’’
Meanwhile, Neyyattinkara Tahasildar Sam L Sone refuted the allegations that mining was going on despite the stop memo. ‘’During daytime, no such activity is going on as the officials are continuously monitoring the region. And the allegation that such things are happening in the night cannot be believed. If such complaints are raised, we will surely look into it,’’ he said.
Despite issuing a stop memo, it is alleged that no routine checks were being conducted by the officials. ‘’Even after intimating them about the quarry activities, they are not coming here for any check,’’ Kumar said. Even the decision to set up a police picket in the region is yet to materialise, he added.
On the stop memo, the samithi alleged that the officials were just trying to fool the people and only helping the quarry mafia. ‘’When it is a known fact that all the licences have expired, then why a stop memo. All quarry activities should be banned and criminal procedures initiated against quarry owners engaged in illegal quarrying, violating all the existing rules,’’ Kumar said.
All the reports of the Panchayat Deputy Director, Commissionerate of Land Revenue and Vigilance Department had stated that the licences and papers in the possession of the quarry owners were illegal and called for closure of all the quarries. ‘’When all these reports clearly state that the quarries are functioning illegally, then why a stop memo and not a complete ban?’’ he asked. The Mining and Geology Department had in total issued stop memo to 10 four quarries in Mookunnimala, which did not have the required documents.
