Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan visited the Chembanmudy hill at Naranammozhy in Ranni taluk amidst a mass movement against the illegal granite quarrying there on Saturday.
The entire village, including cancer patients, converged on the hill to air their woes before the Opposition Leader in the afternoon. Addressing the people, Mr. Achuthanandan said he would take up all the issues concerning the illegal granite quarries and crusher units at Chembanmudy with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the Ministers concerned in person as soon as he reached Thiruvananthapuram.
Mr. Achuthanandan said he would lead the agitation, if the government failed to address the problems. Many people in the area were suffering from serious lung ailments and cancer. It was sad that no Minister had visited the affected people, he said.
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Mr. Achuthanandan also interacted with a few cancer patients, including six-year-old Allen, who was undergoing treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Chembanmudy Protection Council leader, Shaji Pathalil, said that the quarries had been operating at Chembanmudy without licence and violating the Mining Act.