Resentment over rock quarry at Kottamala

KOTTAYAM: The licence granted for rock mining at a quarry situated on three hills bordering Kottayam and Idukki districts has caused resentment among the people of  Kottamala at Ramapuram  near Pala.  The licence was allegedly given by  former secretary of Ramapuram panchayat, M.N. Harikumar,  without the knowledge of the panchayat president and members.   At least 115 families are residing near the  quarry.   The issue began in 2014 when  300 acres of hilly land was  purchased by St Basil’s Industries owned by Shans Paul, a native of Moovattupuzha.

Mr Harikumar told DC  that he issued the licence on the  basis of the HC verdict and with the permission of the panchayat president. “I had no go other than to issue the order since  there were contempt of court proceedings against me,”  Mr Harikumar,  who went on leave after issuing the licence,  said.   The Supreme Court had directed the panchayat  to   present  the case to the state environment department when the panchayat  challenged the legal sanctity of the clearance issued by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), it is said.
On the basis of the clearance issued by the SEIAA,  the High Court had permitted  ‘St Basil Industries’ to conduct the mining.

“The  SEIAA  has no competence to ascertain the nuisance and pollution aspects.  Hence, the HC judgment will not stand and we hope to get the order reviewed after filing a representation to the environment department,”  said  Mr Georgekutty Mathew, who appeared for the anti-quarry struggle committee. He said that on the basis of the SC observation,  the status quo should be maintained till a final decision is reached. There is also a legal problem in granting mining permission at a place where the slope is more than 45 degrees, he said.  At Kottamala the slope  is more than 45 degrees and the same was  ascertained by the  SEIAA.

Meanwhile, an objection certificate against  mining   was issued by the committee appointed by the district collector, which  comprised  the institute of disaster management authority and mining and geology department. This will also help their case, they say. Mr R. Jayaprakash, convenor of the anti-quarry struggle committee,  told DC that the panchayat secretary hastily took the decision and that  the families were at risk as the place has a history of landslides.   Mr  Jeenus Nath Kurinji,  panchayat member, said  the panchayat  will revoke the order issued by the former secretary.