Thiruvananthapuram: Quarrying goes on unabated

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite a ban on quarrying and an ongoing legal tussle between quarry owners and activists, hundreds of trucks loaded with granite still descend on Mookunnimala. While blasting does not happen in quarries, mining using mechanical devices continue unhindered, say activists who are part of the Mookunnimala Samrakashana Samithi (MSS). “It may sound ironic that vigilance had to complete the survey of quarries over Mookunnimala hills using boats. It may sound coincidental that properties belonging to many anti-quarry activists were engulfed in the fire. However, Trivandrumites won’t be surprised to hear that quarrying is continuing unhindered in Mookunnimala” said Surendra Kumar, joint convenor of MSS.

Truck movement happens through Malayankeezhu- Pappanamcode road which has been built strong specially to hold quarry trucks, he added. “It won’t be possible for MSS to put an embargo on these trucks as a section of local residents who are dependent on quarries support offenders,” he said. Policemen claim that quarry trucks go scotfree due to several loopholes. Many paste a sticker which says ‘on government contract' “Often they claim that the granite boulders are brought from outside. They are taken to crushers in Mookunnimala to be made usable for construction. If we stop a truck, the convoy will stop for a while as information is relayed,” a police officer attached to Nemom station said.

He added, “In the district, truck drivers keep blank permits that were given by the department of Mining and Geology. As soon as they spot police, they fill and keep the permits ready for us.” The Collector can slap up to Rs 15,000 for quarry vehicles with no permit. Those who come with blank documents are fined around Rs 5000.  These were petty sums for quarry operators, sources said.

Govt report to High Court marks site a forest land

The State Government submitted a report to the high court earlier this week stating that Mookunnimala was actually forest land. As per the affidavit, the area falls under Forest land as per Travancore Forest Conservation act. It falls under Paruthipally Forest range. The area was given to rubber planters turned quarry owners for the purpose of rubber cultivation. However this forms only 315 out of the 1000 acre Mookunnimala hills.

As per another report from the Kerala Biodiversity Board, the area has been inhabited by many protected species like the Malabar large spotted civet. Also rare medicinal herbs here include Idampiriyan, Valampiriyan, Kattukaruva, Eswaramulla, Panachimulla, Kunthirikkam, Embanam and Neyvalli among others. The District Collector has compiled the report based on complaints filed by a local resident Letha.

Last week, the Mining and Geology Department had asked the state to cancel the patta given to land owners turned quarry operators. It upheld a survey conducted by the Vigilance which found that the total government property which was encroached and was being quarried at Mukkunnimala came to around 106.74 acre. Additionally it was pointed out that the government had ample powers to recover the entire value of the granite quarried illegally from the government property.