Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis on Wednesday said the licence of stone quarry units that do not install an outer fence within 15 days would be cancelled.
This direction comes in the backdrop of the death of a 30-year-old woman, Neelavva, and her five-year-old, Hanumanth, in a defunct stone quarry pit at Alevoor village on Tuesday.
Ms. Francis was chairing a meeting of government officials and representatives of voluntary organisations, held at the District Offices Complex here.
She directed officials of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd. (KRIDL) to carry out a survey to find if there were any illegal stone quarry units in the district. The KRIDL should submit the report within two days, she said.
Some stone quarry units might be defunct or not in use. Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of the previous owners to fence them, she said.
Ms. Francis also directed all gram panchayats to identify the stone quarrying units, lakes, ponds and dangerous pits on roadsides and put up cautionary signage in front of them within a week.
On child protection
Later, there was a detailed discussion on the formation of a task force for the protection of children in the district.
Ms. Franics urged the representatives of the voluntary organisations to study the draft copy and submit their opinions. She directed the Women and Child Welfare officer to take immediate steps to start a child helpline.
Responding to complaints of illegal sale of liquor at Kerady, Haklady and Golihole in Kundapur taluk, the Excise Deputy Commissioner said that if proper information is given, suitable action would be taken and the name of the informant kept confidential.
