The Western Ghats Protection Council (WGPC) has alleged serious flaws in the granting of environment clearance for a granite quarry in Enadimangalam village in Pathanamthitta district.
In a statement issued here on Monday, WGPC district president Avinash Palleenazhikathu said that the data collected by the council as per the Right To Information Act showed that the authority concerned had issued the environment clearance for granite quarrying at Kunnida in Enadimangalam on January 20 whereas the expiry date of the explosives licence produced by the applicant was March 31, 2017.
However, the Revenue Divisional Officer at Adoor says that the licence produced by the applicant was valid till 2022.
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Expired last March
But, the licence uploaded on the website of the District-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority shows its expiry date as March 31, 2017.
Mr. Palleenazhikathu also alleged massive corruption in the Revenue Department issuing no-objection certificate for earth and granite quarrying on 42 acres of government land at Kannimala in Kadambanad village.
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He told The Hindu that RTI replies received by the council said that the Revenue authorities were unable to provide details of this parcel of government fallow land.
Documents not available
The documents of the land were not available at the taluk office and the village office, he said.
There was a government order that categorically prohibited setting up any industry under the Red Category in such lands meant for agriculture, he alleged.
Mr. Palleenazhikathu said that the WGPC would move the State Vigilance authority, seeking a high-level inquiry into the entire issue.