Kozhikode: The environmental organisations of the district are in a fight against mafia goons as well as political parties who target the Green volunteers at the grassroots.
Despite much protest, the mysterious death of an activist’s son in the district is still shrouded in mystery they pointed out. Greens also allege that the ongoing attacks on activists in the region were aimed at deterring the activists who raise voice against widespread and illegal mining across the region.
Villages of Kodanchery, Koodaranji, Thiruvamb-adi, Karassery, Nellipoyil, Tinur, Vilangad, Marutho-nkara and Kavilummpara have many quarries which, though officially abandoned, operate illegally. Only few quarries have the necessary licenses including that of mining and geology department. But countless quarries are functioning with the connivance of officials, according to activists.
We are easy targets as the number of volunteers in each spot are only few”, said T.V. Rajan, Kozhikode Paristhithi Samrakshana Samithy leader. “We are less organised and it is easy for any mafia elements to target us”, he pointed out. “Backed by political parties and supported by bribed bureaucrats, they rule the roost in such hamlets”, he pointed out.
Many of the activists pointed out that the granite rich hills of the district will be a thing of the past soon as organized politico-mafia nexus is on with a total exploitation of the nature.
With ban on mining, majority mining groups earlier operated in Wayanad had shifted operations to Kozhikode district in the last few months.
They are on a purchase spree of Rocky Mountains in the slopes of Western Ghats and the hapless farmers were thrown out of their farm land either by persuasion or by threat.
