Despite protests by residents and environmental organisations, the mining of soil from Palora Hill for various construction works continues to take place, allege residents.
A people’s action committee constituted to save the hillock from mining alleges that the local police are looking the other way as the exploitation takes place. The committee alleges that the soil mined from the area is used for filling private land along the new Kozhikode bypass road.
Jobish Thalakkulathur, chairman of the people’s action committee, says the contractors currently carrying out the mining work have managed to get police security.
“Till very recently, the work had stopped following public protests. Now, it is again in full swing,” he adds.
The residents in the area are planning to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister soon.
They have sent a request to the Ministry of Environment to conduct a study on the impact of soil- mining in the area under the Geological Survey of India
Action council leaders say they oppose the mining activity mainly because of the environmental issues in the area and the increasing water scarcity. The water-level in several wells in the area has come down with sand-mining activity, they add.
People say the issue can be settled if residential areas are spared from mining activities. Several times, the issue had been taken up with the district administration, they say.
