Kerala: Tragedy exposes flaws in granting quarry licences
CAG audit had found quarry licences were granted without a mining plan.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government seems to have ignored the problems outlined by the CAG in its latest report on granting quarrying licences. The report had identified three major lapses: One, non-auctioning of government land for quarrying; two, non-insistence on mining plan; three, non-adherence to Kerala Environment Policy, 2009. To ensure transparency in the allotment of government sites for quarrying operations, the state government had in 2010 ordered that the right to quarry could be auctioned and, medium or long term leases should be given by the revenue department for quarrying in 'poramboke' lands through a simplified auction system.
The CAG audit observed that government did not issue concrete orders in this regard and the department of mining and geology issued permits to private parties without conducting auction. "The non-auctioning of government land prevented the possibility of getting more revenue through auctioning, in addition to seigniorage charges. The audit came across government lands that were given on lease, without auction, for 10 years or more in Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam districts.
The audit found that quarry licences were granted without a mining plan. A mining plan, which has been made mandatory by the Union Ministry of Mines in 2011, has to incorporate comprehensive details such as plan of the precise area showing the nature and extent of minor minerals, spots and extent for excavation, detailed cross section, detailed plan for excavation, details of geology and lithology (general physical characteristics of rocks in a particular area), precise area showing natural water courses, forest limits, assessment of impact of mining on forest and environment including air and water pollution.
"The state government did not frame or modify rules in consonance with the Centre's directions or the Supreme Court judgement making approved mining plan a prerequisite for granting quarrying permits," the report said. As per the Kerala Environment Policy, 2009, the restoration of mined and abandoned areas has to be done by those who had caused the damage. "We noticed that DMG which issued quarrying permits did not convey the conditions to the permit holders at the time of granting permit. Data regarding the number of trees planted after expiry of the permit period as against those cut and removed prior to quarrying was not maintained," the report stated. And during site visits, the audit team noticed seven abandoned quarries which were not restored by land filling and plantation of trees.