Illegal quarrying all set to be a poll plank

he issue of illegal quarrying at Mookkunnimala is set to take centre stage in at least four wards adjoining the quarry site at Pallichal panchayat.

The tone has already been set in motion by the Mookkunnimala Samara Samiti, which had spearheaded an agitation against illegal quarrying, by carrying out a poster campaign against mainstream political parties who are accused of maintaining a nonchalant stand on the issue of mining.

In the past one week, Samiti volunteers had been distributing posters in Poonkodu, Mookkunnimala, Pravachambalam and Edakkodu wards in Pallichal panchayat urging Congress, Left parties and Bharatiya Janata Party to make public their stand on the issue of quarrying at Mookkunnimala before seeking votes.

Besides visiting houses and distributing posters, the Samiti had put up notices in public places accusing three political parties of taking sides with quarry owners and of clandestinely helping them.

12 queries

The Samiti had posed 12 questions, mainly accusing political parties of their covert support to quarry owners.

Convenor of Samithi Surendra Kumar told The Hindu that if the political parties did not make it public their stand before October 14, the last date of filing nominations, it would take out the campaign to all the 23 wards in the panchayat.

“All the three political parties are responsible for the rampant quarrying. We have posed 12 questions and if they do not respond before the last day of filing nominations, we will campaign against them in all the wards,” he said.

Independent candidates

Regarding the question of fielding Independent candidates, he said there were divergent views on the issue with a section in favour of putting Samiti members as Independents and others opposed to the idea.

“We have convened a meeting on Monday to take a final call on fielding Independent candidates,” he said. Arun Kumar, a volunteer, who was arrested during a dharna in front of the panchayat office as part of the agitation, is set to contest as Independent from Edakkodu ward. “I will file nomination as Independent from the ward,” he told The Hindu .