Abandoned granite quarries in the district are posing a grave threat to the public.
The functioning of most of the quarries in the district were stopped recently, after the intervention of the District Disaster Management Committee and directive of the Supreme Court. However, issues related to abandoned quarries such as formation of huge waterbodies in the quarries and lack of proper fencing are major concerns of the public.
“Lakes are formed after indiscriminate quarrying and such sites are seldom filled,” says C.S. Dharmaraj, secretary, Our Own Nature, an environmental organisation in the district.
Mining rules were blatantly violated in most granite quarrying sites. Rules restricted the depth of mining up to 20 feet from the surface level but, excavation was taking place to more than 140 to 150 feet in many a site, Mr. Dharmaraj said.
Quarrying takes place in plains after removing the 20-50-foot thick top layer of fertile soil which is in gross violation of the guideline that quarrying should be only on open rock, he said.
More than 500 granite quarries functioned in district till a few years ago, including nearly 70 granite quarries on Revenue lands in Ambalavayal grama panchayat alone. Many have been abandoned.
When two children were drowned in an abandoned quarry here a few years ago, the district administration promised stringent action against quarry owners who do not erect fences. But no measures were taken, Thomas Ambalavayal, secretary, Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samiti, said.
“On paper, mining is done by licensed contractors. However, most quarries are under sub-contracts. The responsibility rests with major contractors who may be aware of the protective measures. Sub-contractors are unaware of these measures or they are not bothered,” Mr. Thomas said.
