Mookunnimala: criminal proceedings likely in illegal mining

In the wake of illegal quarry activities continuing in  Mookunnimala even after a ban was imposed by the district administration, various departments have filed reports against the ongoing quarry activities in the hill. It is likely that criminal proceedings will be initiated

against quarry owners in the hill.

The officials of the Vigilance, Mining and Geology Department and Pallichal Village who visited Mookunnimala on Monday prepared a mahazar and report with regard to the ongoing illegal mining activities.

Though the Vigilance team led by Circle Inspector A Rabiyath visited the hill for resuming the Total Station Survey (TSS) that it began last month for assessing the actual quantum of loss incurred due to illegal quarrying activities, they could not continue as all the quarries and crusher units were functioning in the region.

Rabiyath will file a report along with the mahazars before the Superintendent regarding the present situation and the difficulties that they faced in conducting the TSS.  Pallichal Village officer Sivakumar said that he would file a report to the Neyyattinkara Tahalsidar regarding the present situation. ''There are complaints that quarry activities were going in the night. Already a stop memo has been issued to some of the quarries,'' he said. Moreover, the officials of the District Mining and Geology department , Thiruvananthapuram district, said

that a similar report will be filed before the Director.      

Source: the New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/455016/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/10-03-2015#page/19/1

Illegal Quarryng in Mookunnimala: lapses come to the fore

At a time the district administration points out its inability to shut down all the quarries in Mookunnimala, serious lapse on the part of the district authorities and the Commissionerate of Land Revenue has come to the light the delay in implementing the government's order of closing down all the illegal quarries for the last three years.

The government had written about ten official letters from 2012 to the district administration and the Land Revenue Commissioner for cancelling the pattayam (title deed) to the lands given exclusively for  Rubber cultivation and to deposit them with the Land Bank if quarry activities were being conducted in those lands. Though a report has been sought for the last three years, the two offices have been keeping its silence.

The first communication was sent on July 13, 2012 from the Revenue Principal secretary to the district collector and the Commissionerate of Land Revenue regarding cancelling the pattayam and depositing the land in the Land bank if quarry activities were being conducted in the land given exclusively for rubber plantation. Reminders were sent on August 1, 2012 and November 30, 2012. Apart from this, the government had also sent semi official letters in January, May, September and October 2013. In 2014, the same communication was sent in January and February.

The government had sent the communications based on various reports that illegal quarry activities were being done in Mookunnimala in violation of all rules. It should also be noted that the Commissionerate of Land Revenue has not responded to the directions of the Government even when a report from the same office had recommended to the government appropriate action against all the illegal quarries. The report said that the land where illegal quarries was taking place could be taken by the government as it violated the rules. The land was given for ruber cultivation as per the Special Rules for Assignment of Government Lands for Rubber Cultivation Act. It had also mentioned that land was illegally transferred, which could not be done as per the special rules.

Vigilance accuses 40 in Mookunnimala illegal quarry issue; Samithi to continue agitation

After a year long struggle, the Mookunnimala Samrakshana Samithi, which is spearheading the agitation against illegal quarries in the hill, has now hope to rejoice after the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau exposed the illegal activities in the hills, accusing 40 persons for alleged fraud and irregularities in quarry operations.

Stating that it was a major setback to to Pallichal panchayat, quarry mafia, political parties and many others, Samrakshanan Samithi Joint convenor Surendra Kumar told express that they would take out a march and hold an agitation in front of Pallichal Panchayat on Monday, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused, including Pallichal panchayat president K Rakesh. Apart from arresting the accused, all their properties should also be seized, he added.

''After a year of agitation, the truth has at last come out through a government agency. We have been telling the government and all authorities concerned that the quarries were functioning illegally. The samithi has also pointed out that the quarry activities has led to environment destruction. But there was no one to hear us. But now the VACB has unearthed irregularities and we hope that the government will at least now take some steps to save the hill,'' he said.

Pointing out that the agitation will not end with the Vigilance filing an FIR in the vigilance court, Kumar said that they would continue the agitation till all the quarry activities were stopped in the hill. On strengthening the agitation, he said that in the second phase, protest marches will be taken to the house of all the 23 members of the Panchayat, demanding their cooperation in the agitation. ''The second phase of agitation has already started with a protest march to the house of Pallichal Panchayat President K Rakesh. In the first week of January, we will be marching to the houses of all members,'' he said.

Source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/405614/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/29-12-2014#page/15/1

Kerala stern on encroachers; to take back all lands in illegal possession of HML

At last the Kerala government has taken a stern step against encroachers in the state, especially with the Special Officer for Land Resumption M G Rajamanickam serving notice to Harrisons Malayalam Ltd to vacate 29,185 acres of land spread over Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts. Apart from this, the government is also for recovering the other stretches of lands, illegally held by the company in the different parts of the state.

It is estimated that HML are in the illegal possession of about 60,000 acres of land. Though several probes have concluded that the HML was in the possession of lands that belonged to the government, no government had taken a firm step against the company until the High Court ruled that that the state government was vested with necessary powers under Kerala Conservancy Act to retrieve the land.

Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said that all the lands that are to be taken back are government land and the company had fabricated documents. He made it clear that the special officer was appointed based on a High Court order. Before serving the eviction notice, the special office had inspected all the four districts and verified the documents.

The Minister also said that the company had sold 8,147 acres in the four districts from where the company has been asked to vacate. He also said that the company was misleading the people by placing advertisements, which amount to contempt of court. The advertisements have been given by HML Vice president (Legal) V Venugopal, against whom the vigilance had recommended a case after a preliminary inquiry found evidence of forgery of documents and survey maps with the Plantation Majors.