Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday issued notices to the state government in a taken up PIL over rampant illegal granite mining in Asifnagar village, Baopet, Kothapally mandal, Karimnagar district.
The Chief Justice bench issued notices to the principal secretaries of mines, forest and environment departments, state pollution control board, Karimnagar district collector and others directing them to file an affidavit with their explanations.
The court took the taken up PIL based on a letter addressed by the locals, who complained that the illegal mining was destroying the environment in areas surrounding the granite quarries. They were making lives of people living in the vicinity miserable, they said.
The granite, stone cutting and polishing units are emitting all sorts of pollutants due to which there is heavy pollution of air, water and sound. Greenery has been badly impacted and there is an impending threat to the flora and fauna, the locals explained.
The petitioner further contended that the granite hills have become a goldmine to the granite owners, who are illegally excavating granite giving a damn to environment concerns.
