Quarries throw pollution norms to the wind, reveal raids across Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government has decided to clamp down on mining operations in the wake of palpable environmental hazards and devastating natural calamities.

The Vigilance has unearthed large-scale irregularities in raids conducted at quarries and at the offices of the Mining and Geology Department across Kerala. The action revealed that several illegal quarries are functioning in the state without permission from the pollution control watchdogs.

The Vigilance sleuths also found that quarries were carrying out mining at a much larger area than that was allowed. At most locations, safety norms were not followed either.

The 'Operation Hunt' that began at 11am on Thursday continued late into the night. The Vigilance sleuths found three illegal quarries at Muthalamada in Palakkad, and at Vethatoor and Melmuri in Malappuram. The quarries in Palakkad were found to be functioning for five years without even the licence from the local administration department.

The sleuths also seized a lorry laden with granite and compressor from an illegal quarry at Karichery in Kasaragod. Two illegal stone quarries were found at Pathanamthitta district.

The functioning of the quarry at Payanamannil in Konni, Pathanamthitta, was stopped. It was also found that the two quarries that functioned at Kinaloor estate in Kozhikode did not have the nod from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and the environmental council.

Such gross violations were earlier pointed out by Malayala Manorama in a series on illegal mining over the past few days after incessant rains in the state had triggered landslides in several parts early last month. The functioning of stone quarries at ecologically-sensitive regions is suspected to be one of the reasons for the calamity.

Late last month the Kerala government had revoked the ban on mining and quarrying of minerals and earth imposed on August 10 soon after the destructive landslides in north Kerala. Government-approved quarries, which number 750, had stopped functioning across the state as the indefinite ban came into effect.

While pointing out that quarrying at hilly regions was increasing the risk of landslides, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) had recommended to the government to bring in regulations even as the heavy rain continued to pound Kerala last month. The Kerala government had taken into consideration the SEIAA’s recommendation while banning mining.

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil had earlier warned that stone quarrying in the Western Ghats was causing landslide and mud slips.