Activists join hands in protest against mining lobby

: Hundreds of activists of civil society movements in the State assembled at Muthalamada village in Chittur taluk in Palakkad district on Sunday in a rare show of solidarity against the mining lobby.

Activists representing over 20 civil society movements joined hands with the local community in organising the protest.

The protesters gathered in large numbers at Moochikund where four major granite quarries are located.

They shared their bitter experience of fighting lobbies that promoted the plundering of granite, river-sand and red soil.

The meeting expressed solidarity with the environmental activists of Muthalamada who were brutally assaulted by a granite quarry mafia last month.

Arumugan Pathichira, a local activist who suffered serious injuries in the attack, told the gathering that four big and 20 small illegal quarries in the Muthalamada panchayat had caused irrecoverable damage to its topography. He urged mainstream political parties to end the practice of extending support to groups that plundered natural resources.

Congress MLA V.T. Balram, who addressed the afternoon session, called upon the people to keep their political differences away and fight criminal elements that destroyed land, forests and livelihood.

Mr. Balaram termed last month’s attack a shameful episode and urged the local community not to give up their struggle fearing threats.