Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim on Friday directed tahilsidars and Executive Officers of taluk panchayats to complete by June 10 fencing and other measures to prevent persons from drowning in abandoned stone quarries.
Reviewing the preparedness for monsoon here on Friday, Mr. Ibrahim expressed his displeasure over the slow pace in taking safety measures, especially in Moodbidri where five children drowned in an abandoned quarry. “You have all the power including the power to cancel licences (of those who have abandoned quarries). Otherwise, I have to make use of the power vested in me against you all,” said Mr. Ibrahim when an official from Moodbidri said they had issued notices to persons for closure of quarries.
The official from Moodbidri said there were as many as 177 stone quarries, of which four were in Moodbidri town. A total of 96 were owned by private persons while the remaining were operated by the government. They had taken action to close some of the quarries including those in Beluvai and Kuppadavu where children had drowned.
Mr. Ibrahim directed all the tahsildars to publish in local newspapers the number of quarries in each of the taluk and ask people to report of any quarries unlisted. He directed Tahsidars and Executive Officers for Taluk Panchayats to come out with detailed plan and complete the work of taking safety measures around quarries before monsoon sets in.
