Wayanad to shut more quarries
It bans quarrying in the disaster prone areas of Krishnagiri and Ambalavayal villages.
Kozhikode: Wayanad collector B.S. Thirumeni has banned quarrying in the ecologically sensitive areas of the district.
The Saturday's order was a sequel to an earlier one by his predecessor Keshvendra Kumar on August 2, 2016, banning quarrying and operations of granite crusher units in the ecologically fragile zones.
The High Court had stalled this order issued in his capacity as the chairman of the district disaster management authority. The new one is in tune with the directions of the HC to discuss with quarry owners before issuing it. It bans quarrying in the disaster prone areas of Krishnagiri and Ambalavayal villages.
It was on August 2, 2016, Mr Kumar banned quarrying in a 200-metre radius of Phantom Rock, Arattupara, and Cheengerippara and Kolagappara.
But the HC asked him to hear quarry owners before issuing an order, and he heard them last month.
At Krishnagiri, all mining activities including crusher and quarrying have been banned. Sulthan Bathery tahsildar has been empowered to take action against violators.
The geologist and panchayat secretaries of respective panchayats were directed to take appropriate action.
Green groups welcome the new order. Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi president Badusha said the collector had ensured that he is committed to nature and people.