Mookunnimala: reports yet to be finalised

The Neyyattinkara Tahalsidar is yet to file a detailed report, including a data bank, on the quarries and crusher units that are functioning in Mookunnimala even though the district administration had given time till April 25 to file the report.

District Collector Biju Prabhakar had on April 16 directed the Neyyattinkara tahsildar to create a data bank of quarry and crusher units at Mookkunnimala, including survey number of lands owned by the Fire and Rescue Services and Defence establishments in the hill.

Though the district administration has given strict directions that there should not be any delay in filing the data and report, it is ten days that the Taluk office is yet to gather all the data. When contacted, Tahalsidar Sam L Sone said that the data is only being collected. ''We are yet to collect and coordinate all the data. The work will be completed and mostly submitted by Tuesday,'' he said.

Apart from the data on total number of quarry and crusher units functioning in the region and also about the land of the Fire Force and Army, the district collector had also asked to furnish details of closed down quarries.

Meanwhile, Prabhakar said that they were for having a comprehensive data on all the land in that area. ''There are abandoned quarries of which data was not available. The entire area should be marked in Litho. It all will take some time,'' he said and added that the process was on.

Source: The New Indnian Express
http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/488448/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/28-04-2015#page/17/1

Directions for detailed report on Mookunnimala quarries

The Thiruivananthapuram district administration has directed the Neyyattinkara Tahalsidar to file a detailed report on the quarries and crusher units that are functioning in Mookunnimala.

District Collector Biju Prabhakar directed the Tahalsidar on Thursday to file the report by April 25. He has asked to furnish the report regarding the total number of quarry and crusher units along with the survey numbers of the land where they are functioning. Even the details of closed down quarries should be included in the report, he said. Apart from this, the Tahalsidar has also been asked to provide details about government land, including that of the fire force and the Army.

The collector gave the direction after a high level meeting at the Collectorate, which was attended by officials of the Revenue department, Pollution Control Board and the Geology Department.

Prabhakar also stressed that all the vehicles and equipment of the quarry and crusher units that were functioning without proper license and documents will be confiscated. Meanwhile, the officials of the Pollution Control Board said that licenses have not been renewed for any of the units at Mookunnimala.

The above direction gains significance in the wake of allegations that the panchayat was going to renew the licenses of the various quarry and crusher units. It has been alleged that the Panchayat had recently renewed the Dangerous and Offensive Trade License to a private quarrying group defying the Collector's orders and directives from the National Green Tribunal.

The Mookunnimala issue has been boiling for the last many years with the Mookunnimala Samrakshana Samithi intensifying their agitation against all quarry activities in the hill. The samithi leaders have reiterated that they would continue the agitation till all the quarries are stopped in the hill. They have alleged that all the rules have been violated by the quarry owners for the last many years and the officials had only helped the quarry mafia. They allege that most of the quarry operators did not have the required licenses and papers.

Source: the New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/481127/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/17-04-2015#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