Greens for bringing mining activities under public domain

Kochi: Environmental activists have urged the state government to bring all mining activities in the state under the public domain.
Deposing before the assembly committee on environment at civil station in Kakkanad, they also said a minimum distance of 200 metres be maintained between quarries and residential zone to minimize the conflicts and ensure safety of residents.
Speaking at the meeting, Action Council for Environment Protection chairman Varghese Pulluvazhy said there is an urgent need to form a monitoring committee comprising social activists, people’s representatives and officials of the revenue department to ensure that clauses in quarrying permits are followed steadfastly.
Permissions, including environmental clearance for quarrying, should be given only after proper investigation and there should be a mechanism that facilitates the public to highlight their grievances regarding quarries.
“The state government should also formulate measures to pay compensation to the public in case of damage to houses, accidents, pollution, health issues, shortage of potable water and deterioration of roads due to quarrying and related activities,” he said.
Activists also said government departments should take steps to increase the royalty on mined granite paid by quarries based on market conditions. “The quarry safety fund is currently unutilized. The fund can be used to fence the abandoned quarries and prevent recurring accidents, which often results in death,” he said.
It would be ideal if the permission by panchayat-level biodiversity management committee (BMC) is made mandatory for quarries.
Eloor Gopinath of Prakrithi Samrakshana Vedi demanded changes in legislations to prevent entry of earth movers and heavy trucks to hilly areas where quarries are located. Highlighting the need to maintain an area surrounding quarries as eco-sensitive zone, he said the authorities should ensure that abandoned quarries are filled with earth and made suitable for agriculture.
Deposing before the panel, Josmon, a resident of Mukkannur panchayat, said he had lost his house during the rains in August and the major reason behind it was the weakening of the structure because of constant blasting by the quarry located next to his house. The panel directed the district collector to look into the complaint and take action.