: While the world celebrated Environment Day on June 5 with a resolve to protect Earth and its natural resources, the nearly 500 authorised and illegal granite quarries in Pathanamthitta were abuzz with activity.
Illegal granite quarrying, razing of hills, conversion of low-lying paddy lands, wetlands and even natural streams are posing a major threat to environment in the hill terrains.
There is acute shortage of potable water in many parts of the district in spite of abundant streams and rivers. Criminal negligence on the part of the authorities concerned has led to pollution of water sources due to dumping of waste into the rivers
The rocky hill ranges bordering the district on the east that were water reservoirs are fast disappearing
Agitations launched by environmentalists against granite quarrying in Kalanjoor, Kannimala, Ponmala, Chunkappara, Thudiyurulippara, and Chembanmudy have turned into mass movements with people taking to the streets.
Public protest
The major quarry in the district, atop Chembanmudy, was closed down following public protest two years ago. As per official records, the Mining and Geology Department has issued licence to 20 granite quarries in Kanlanjoor grama panchayat alone. This is besides the permits given by the Revenue Department for granite quarrying from the Revenue poromboke and other uanuthorised quarries. According to M.G. Santhoshkumar of the Western Ghats Protection Council, a recent survey showed that 54 quarries were functioning in Kalanjoor panchayat alone and a majority of them were situated in 3 km radius, posing alarming health hazards to the local population.
Mallappally taluk is another area where illegal quarrying is rampant. Avolimala hill, which is 60th among the 3,500 great trigonometrical (GT) stations identified by the Survey of India 209 years ago, is also fast fading into history due to granite quarrying. Ponmala in Thottappuzhassery panchayat is another majestic hill badly hit by granite quarrying.
The villagers are up in arms against the two-decade old granite quarry that has aready eaten up the hilltop, which once provided a panoramic view of the valley. Wells located in houses on the banks of the Pampa, Achencoil and Manimala are drying up due to lowering of water level owing to indiscriminate river-sand quarrying.
Razing of hills, coupled with rampant conversion of paddy fields and wetlands, have contributed to the depletion of groundwater table.
``The villagers’ victory in Aranmula over the State-land lobby nexus in checking conversion of the remaining paddy land and wetland in Aranmula in the name of an airport project was a good sign. It showed the increasing popular concern towards the ever growing development-linked environmental issues,” said Thomas P. Thomas, academic turned environmentalist.
