Giving a new lease of life to over 2,000 small quarries across the State, the government has restored the minimum permissible distance limit for quarrying to 50 m from roads, canals, rivers, and residential buildings.
The amendments to the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules were approved by the State Cabinet on Wednesday. The previous UDF regime had doubled the distance limit to 100 m, forcing hundreds of quarries to close down.
Crisis in construction
“The closure of small-scale quarries had led to shortage of construction materials and a spike in prices, triggering a crisis in the construction industry,” said a press note quoting Industries Minister A.C. Moideen. “The amendment is expected to provide a solution to the crisis.”
The Minister said the last meeting of the Cabinet had decided to restore the distance limit to 50 m following a detailed study by the Industries Department which revealed that the rules issued by the Central government in 2016 and those followed by several other States prescribed only 50 m.
Term enhanced
Under the revised rules, the term of the quarrying permit has been enhanced to five years from the current three years.
China clay, silica sand, and laterite have been classified as minor minerals, eligible for extraction. Though the Centre had notified the three as minor minerals in 2015, they could not be extracted because the State had failed to come up with the relevant rules.
As a result, Malabar Cements had to import laterite from Andhra Pradesh at inflated price though it was abundantly available in Kerala.
Punishment
The revised rules prescribe punishment for illegal removal of ordinary earth if the applicant fails to complete the foundation of the building within one year of approval.
Local bodies will be required to specify the amount of earth to be removed while issuing the building permit.
