The greens’ continuing protest against the rampant quarrying works in the interior areas of Kozhikode, especially in grama panchayats like Karassery and Kavilumpara, has gained a fresh impetus in view of the local body elections.
Activists consider it as a golden chance to motivate their voters and turn public opinion in favour of candidates who are at least concerned of the impact of illegal quarrying.
Three candidates contesting the elections from Maruthongara, Karassery and Chakkittappara panchayats are representing the Paristhithi Samrakshana Samiti, which is protesting against quarrying. The samiti believes that it will obviously send a message to the community on selecting candidates who are committed to take up environmental issues and discuss it at the local bodies concerned.
“Karassery grama panchayat has the highest number of granite quarries and crushers in the district. We naturally want to take it up as a huge environmental issue for campaigns by fielding our candidate and make our people aware of the impact it leaves on the region,” says T.V. Rajan, president of Paristhithi Samiti. Here around 17 quarries and seven crusher units are functional now as the panchayat’s intervention to control them was minimal, he adds.
Chakkittappara and Maruthongara panchayats too have Paristhithi Samrakshana Samiti’s candidates who are contesting the election to register their protest against the illegal quarrying and environment pollution. They claim victory in at least two wards projecting the mass support they have on various environmental issues.
At the same time, the heads of various grama panchayats from these regions counter the argument of environmentalists stating that they have done everything possible on their part to suppress the illegal players in the sector and close down the unlawfully functioning units.
They also point out that the complaints of local people in the quarrying area have been given due consideration during their term.
“After conducting a study, we closed down around 14 quarries, which were found functioning violating the license norms. Even the working time of quarries was rearranged taking into account public complaints,” says M.T. Ashraf, vice president of Karassery panchayat. “We face this election on the basis of initiatives we had taken to suppress the illegal players in the sector,” he adds.
