Demand to stop mining at Kottur

KOZHIKODE: The demand to scrap the license given by District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) for granite mining to a private company at Chengodumala in Kottur gram panchayat is gaining strength. District forest officer (DFO) has submitted a preliminary inquiry report to the district collector urging to withdraw the permission and conduct a detailed study.  “There is substance in the complaint of the residents that the permission was given without the study of a competent authority. Also, the area is having biological importance, hence a detailed study is needed,” said DFO K.K. Sunil Kumar.

Three members of District Environment Assessment Committee (DEAC) had visited the spot, and two of them favoured the mining.  "Thus DEIAA permission was given," said a government source.  “But no representative of the forest department, Zoological Survey of India and CWRDM was present during their visit. The green activist, the third member of the team, had registered his objection.” It was pollution control board member and geology department officer who favoured the mining.

The protesters are waiting for the district collector, who is also the chairman of DEIAA, to inspect the site.  “Chengodumala is an ecologically fragile area. The company is targeting to destruct the granite quarry which is at the top of the hillock,"alleged V.V. Jineesh, the chairman of the action committee. Delta Rock private company has bought close to 100 acres of land at Chengodumala and mining has been aimed at 12 acres.  "The village life would be severely affected by mining. It would have repercussion in not only in Kottur alone but also in neighbouring Kayanna and Nochad gram panchayats also," he said.