Kozhikode: The action committee has conducted a protest march to Avidanellur village office on Monday demanding the withdrawal of permission to granite stone mining at Chengodumala in Kottur gram panchayat. The committee has warned of indefinite stir if the quarrying licence was not scrapped by December.
"The flood has come as an eye opener for the whole state regarding the cost of the ecological destruction. Wise men will study from mistakes. A responsible district administration should withdraw the licence given for quarrying in an ecologically sensitive area," urged E.P Anil, state convenor of Western Ghat protection committee. Hundreds of people from Moolad, Narayamkulam, Puliyottumukku, Kolikkadavu, Paloli and Chedikkulam participated in the march.
Kottur grampanchayat has also asked to scrap the license given by District Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) for mining by a private company, Delta Rock. Three members of District Environment Assessment Committee had visited the spot a year back and given the licence with the opposition of a member. Since then, the area is witnessing wide spread protests from all quarters. "Delta Rock Private Company has bought close to 100 acres of land at Chengodumala and mining has been aimed at 12 acres of land. The village life would be severely affected by mining. It would have repercussion in not only in Kottur alone but also in neighbouring Kayanna, Nochad gram panchayats also," warns V.V Jineesh, the chairman of the action committee. District forest officer (DFO), CWRDM, Kottur gram panchayat and all political parties had requested district administrator to conduct an expert study in the matter and suspend the licence until then.
