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

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

Mookkkunimala quarrying: Local people plan social auditing

The people in an around Mookunnimala, who are on a relentless struggle against quarrying in the hill, has decided to intensify their agitation and has chalked out various strategies even as the agitation led by Mookunnimala Samara Samithi completed one month.

As many as 500 people, including a large number of women participated in the meeting held on Tuesday. In the meeting, the samithi had decided to intensify their agitation until the closure of all quarries in the region. Apart from launching a protest in front of the Pallichal panchayat office, they have decided to take the agitation to the secretariat.

The Samithi leaders said that they have decided to conduct a social auditing of the quarries. '' The people will be given awareness classes with regard to social auditing. They would then visit the quarries and inquire if the quarries were functioning legally with all necessary licenses,'' said  Madhusoodanan Nair, Mookkunnimala Samrakshana Samithi activist and Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishat Pravachambalam Unit president. 

Source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/262151/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/24-04-2014#page/17/1

Pond conversion: Lok Ayukta Appoints Adv Commission

The controversy over the conversion of a pond into a swimming pool in Pallichal Panchayat has taken a new turn with the Lok Ayukta appointing an Advocate commission to look into the issue. A division bench comprising Justice Pius C Kuriakose and Justice K P Balachandran appointed the commission with five points to be explored.

Jitu S Babu, who was appointed as the commission, on Monday visited the pond and took stock of the present situation. He told express that the report will be filed before Friday. Babu said that the court had asked him to look into four aspects.

It is learned that the commission had been asked to look into if it was a natural pond and if there was a spring. Moreover, the commission was also asked to record the area that as been filled and the portion of water now present.

The Division Bench had decided to appoint a commission after hearing the arguments of both the Panchayat and those opposing the conversion. It is argued that the pond was a natural pond under the government and was found in the survey records of 1920. The panchayat and others had argued that the pond was dry whereas the petitioner had convinced the court with pictures that water was still in the pond. Earlier there were allegations that the water filled pond was dried up for facilitating the conversion. A petition has been already filed with the panchayat, agriculture office and the police, alleging that the pond that was almost full in the recent showers was dried up only to create an impression that it was always dry.

Source: the New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/261616/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/23-04-2014#page/17/1

Conversion of Natural Pond into Swimming Pool: Panchayat still adamant against rules

The pace at which the Pallichal panchayat is moving ahead with the conversion of a 

natural pond into a swimming pool has mounted apprehension among the public, even as a 

case is pending before the High Court.  The panchayat authorities are alleged to be 

gearing up the construction work in a move to complete it before any intervention crops 

in. 

A part for the pond near Vedivachancoil has now been filled with mud. The Authorities 

are also drying up the remaining pond for furthering the construction. The authorities 

are alleged to be moving  ahead after the  Jalasaya Samrakshana Samithi withdrew the 

petition it had filed before the High Court and the Lokayuktha. However, another case 

has now been filed before the High Court with respect to the pond.  

The people in the area who preferred anonymity said that the latest pace with which the pond is being dried up and filled with mud shows that the authorities want to complete 

the project fast believing that no interference can come once it is finished.  

Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishath (KSSP), which has been voicing against the conversion 

of the pond violating the existing laws, alleged that the panchayat are now undertaking 

the work in a haste only to mislead the people and the court. 

Though the Panchayat authorities claim to have undertaken a major part of the work, it 

can be seen that only mud filling exercise has been done, former KSSP state secretary 

and a native of Vedivachancoil said. Moreover, he also refuted the claim of the authorities that the pond is dry. ''One can see that the pond is now being dried up using pump for 

further construction. Moreover water can also be seen at one end of the pond. All these 

show that the authorities are spreading mere lies,'' he said. 

Meanwhile, Kerala State Sports  Council said that they were not aware of any new case 

being filed with respect to the pond. When contacted, Council secretary P S Abdul 

Rassak  said that he was not aware of any new case filed with respect to the pond. 

''I only have the information that case has been settled and construction work has started again,'' he said. 

Source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/225294/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/07-02-2014#page/17/1

Opposition Left in Pallichal hand in glove with ruling Congress in reversing a natural pond

The opposition Left in Pallichal Panchayat, which has voiced against the conversion of a pond into a swimming pool in the panchayat, has joined hands with the ruling UDF, reversing their opposition in favour of converting the natural resource into a pool.

The petition filed by the Jalasaya Samrakshana Samithi in the High Court and the Lokayuktha were withdrawn allegedly at the instance of the CPM. However, another petition has been filed by some persons challenging the withdrawal of the earlier petition, which has been admitted.

It has also been alleged that the earlier petitioners had withdrawn the petition against converting the pond near Vedivachancoil into a swimming pool without discussing the matter with those who had financially and morally supported the agitation. The CPM is said to have backtracked from their agitation allegedly at the behest of some local leaders, who are very close to the ruling Congress and Congress (M) members in the panchayat.

Source: The Newindian express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/212880/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/13-01-2014#page/17/1

Award for conservation of Natural Resources a Mockery

Pallichal Panchayat, which was in the controversy over converting a natural pond into a 
swimming pool, has bagged the Natural Resource Conservation Award given away by the
Kerala State Land Use board.  The award has been presented for the best Panchayat in the 
south Zone category for preserving natural resources at a time the panchayat is all set to 
convert a natural pond into a swimming pool. 
The Land Use board officials said that they have not heard about a swimming pool project of the Panchayat. The documents that were produced before the Award committee did not mention about the project or the case filed in the High Court in this regard. Kerala State Land Use 
Board Joint Director S Edison said that the award was given to the best panchayat which had initiated various projects for water resources conservation in the last 2 years. The awareness progarmmes, plan projects for water conservation and the utilisation of funds with respect to the conservation of natural resources was taken into account for the award, he said.
The award is alleged to be given to a panachayat which was trying to reverse the water 
resources. There was already a mass protest against the conversion of the pond into a 
swimming pool at Vedivachancoil near the National Highway.
Though the panchayat claims that it would not have any adverse impact in the future, 

it is alleged that the area that is already reeling under water shortage  will see the worsein the future





Source: The Newindian Express






http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/210806/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/09-01-2014#page/17/1