The quarry lobby, which enjoys political clout as well as money and muscle power, is trying to get the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police, who have taken a strong stand against illegal granite quarrying in the district, shifted. Talking to The Hindu , Western Ghats Protection Council leader Avinash Palleenazhikathu alleged that the lobby had succeeded in operating two quarries at Thekkummala in Vadasserikkara and at Kannimala in Mannady, near Adoor, disregarding the ‘stop memo’ issued by the police on May 5 and May 10 respectively.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thampi S. Durgadutt, had conducted a surprise inspection at the granite quarry attached to Vim Rock Granites at Vadasserikkara in the first week of May on the directives of the Superintendent of Police, Rahul S. Nair.
In his report submitted to the District Collector, S. Harikishore, the Dy.SP. pointed out blatant violation of key laws and safety norms by the quarry operators. The Dy.SP. had recommended the closure of the quarry that had been functioning in violation of the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1961 at the earliest.
The police had registered a case against the quarry operators at Vadasserikkara for violating the Explosives Act and had issued a ‘stop memo’ on May 5 on the directives of the SP. However, the quarry became operational again from May 16 following the intervention of a senior IPS officer, Mr. Avinash alleged.
Meanwhile, the quarry lobby filed a petition before the State Vigilance Department levelling false bribery charges against the Collector and SP in an attempt to silence them, Mr. Avinash alleged.
The council leader alleged that the Revenue Department had conducted an inquiry following allegations of illegal quarrying in government land by the same quarry operator in Vadaserikkara. The revenue team reportedly found that the operators had illegally quarried granite worth nearly Rs.100 crore from nearly seven acres of the government land in Vadasserikkara. The government was yet to take any action against the culprits, he alleged.
The council leader alleged that the quarry at Mannady too started operations from May 17 in violation of the stop memo issued by the police.
The council called upon the Chief Minister and the Home Minister to intervene in the matter and ensure strict compliance of the stop memo in the larger interests of society.
