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

Mookunnimala: Blasts again resounds

Mookunnimala , which was silent for the last some days, has once again started reverberating 

with the sounds of blasts from the quarries and crusher units with some of the quarries 

resuming activities in the wake of a High Court order. Moreover, the Vigilance that was to 

probe the quantum of loss incurred due to illegal quarrying activities has also backtracked 

from its investigation, stating inconvenience for Total Station Survey (TSS) due to quarry 

activities in the region. 

It was on February 9 that the district administration had banned all the quarry activities at 

Mookunnimala with the mining permits got by the quarry units expiring.  The District Collector had given strict instructions that licenses should only be given adhering to the Green Tribunal order, which observed that the Pollution Control Board should not issue licenses without the 

clearance of the Environment Impact Assessment Committee. 

With the resumption of quarry activities, the Mookunnimala Samrakshana Samithi, which is already in the agitation for complete stopping of all quarries, has decided to intensify the 

agitation in the coming days. They have decided to take out a protest march to the Mining and Geology Department on March 2.   

Stating that all quarry activities in the region were illegal, Samithi Joint Convenor Surendra 

Kumar alleged that the quarry owners who did not have any documents when the collector 

called for producing such papers have now told the court that they posses the necessary 

papers. He also asked from where these quarry owners had got the necessary papers now. 

Even the Panchayat Deputy Director's report had pointed out the closure of all the quarries in Mookunnimala. The report  had said that all the licenses and papers that the quarry owners 

were in possession were illegal, Surendra Kumar said. It should also be noted that the Green 

Tribunal had banned all quarry activities in the region  and had instructed the Pollution Control Board of not giving license for quarry activities in the region, he said.  

Source: the New Indian Express 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/448724/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/28-02-2015#page/17/1

Mookunnimala: Quarrying continues despite ban

Throwing to the winds the District Collector's ban orders, quarrying activities at Mookunnimala still continue without any hindrance. A day after prohibitory orders were issued against quarrying and crusher activities, mining activities are still on at Mookkunnimala with a majority of the units functioning on Tuesday and loads of metal being transported out of the hill. Express caught up with a number of loaded trucks coming out of the quarries on Tuesday also.

Coming to know about the drastic violation of orders issued by him, District Collector Biju Prabhakar told Express that the vehicles would be seized if it continues. The Collector said that he will use all his magisterial powers if quarry activities continue in the region. When asked about quarry activities continuing on Tuesday, he said, ''prohibition has already come into effect from Monday itself. But a day is needed to serve the notice and the village officer has been entrusted to serve the notice personally.''

He said that strict action, including seizing of quarries, equipment and vehicles, will be taken if the quarry owners violate the prohibitory orders. Noting that the prohibitory orders were issued on Monday night itself, he said that the Village officer will issue the orders to all the quarry owners by Tuesday evening. The information has been passed on to the City Police commissioner, Rural SP and three Police stations under which the Moookunnimala comes.

The Express while talking to the people at Edacode near Mookunnimala came to know that blasts were heard from the hill from the morning till evening on Tuesday and vehicles carrying the metals were seen going out of the quarries from the morning. They said that much activity was seen in the hills on Tuesday also.

Source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/421521/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/21-01-2015#page/17/1