Kerala flayed for unlicensed quarries

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala High Court on Wednesday flayed the state for not ensuring that quarries had valid licences and environment sanction.  

 

The state took the  stand that if  mining is banned,  it would affect development activities. The court observed that due care should be given for the protection of environment as it cannot be sacrificed in the name of development. 

 

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A.M. Shaffique also directed the director of mines safety to ensure that quarries in the state  function  following all the stipulations laid down and with licence. It  asked the authorities to stop the functioning  of six quarries at  Mambra in Ernakulam.

 

“Natural resources cannot be allowed to be over-exploited contrary to the statutory regulatory regime which was imposed by various statutes.   The state which is bound to protect the environment cannot close its eyes to illegal mining operation being carried out by certain persons whose only interest is to earn by exploiting natural resources,”  the bench observed. 

 

The court issued the order on a petition seeking a directive to stop illegal mining operation being conducted at Mambra. More than 2,000 quarries have to submit  mining plans.

 

Huge pits about 500 feet depth without benches are being created  threatening  human life, the petitioners submitted. The state government submitted that if environmental clearance is insisted on for all quarrying operations, it will affect the developmental activities in the state. The total stoppage due to want of mining plan will affect the ongoing projects. 

 

But the court said that to permit  mining operations contrary to the statutory declarations would be disastrous for the natural resources which belong not only to the present generation but also to the future generation.