Kurnool: Stone crushing units putting safety at risk

KURNOOL: Blasting at stone crushing units is dangerous but operators working there have scant concern for others and themselves to adopt safety measures. The mushrooming of stone-crushing units have been throwing a challenge to authorities on safety aspects. As per official records, there are nearly 90 units in the district but unofficially, the number is ten times that.

And many of them have been functioning without permission from the concerned authorities. Several mine owners are said to be violating the norms. They have been affecting both men and animals in the rural areas. As a result of indiscriminate blasting by these units, several houses in the village built of mud have developed cracks. The blasting also poses threat to animals. Due to high decibel blasts the animals get frightened and are forcibly leaving the places.

In addition scarcity of water seems to be the result of the blasting. The ground water table is dipping. Majority of the units are located in Kallur, Panyam, Dhone, Krishnagiri, Veldurti, Bethamcherla, Banaganapalle, Owk, Kolimigundla, Aspari, Adoni and other mandals in the district. According to the rules, the owners of the units should first apply to the Collector seeking license for blasting the hills, which has been taken for lease.

Later they have to obtain clearance certificate from the Superintendent of Police. The police department will issue after taking up a thorough inspection. The mining owners also have to get permission from the Explosive Department in Chennai. The unit owners have to pay a lease amount of Rs 25,000 per acre to the Mining Department depends on quality of soil or stone. And he has to pay the royalty basing on the production.

However, the owners have been turning a blind eye to all the rule books and continuing with their business. Mining department assistant director K. Venkat Reddy said that most of the mining owners are doing their business with sub licenses. The department conducts raids on the units to remove the illicit business establishments. Actually the department will pursue all rules and regulations before giving permission to the units, he added.

But, due to expansion of habitations and towns the number of houses has been increased drastically and naturally problems may be occurring due to blasting at the quarries. Anyhow they will look into the issue to sort out the problems and safeguard the interests of the people, he added.