The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Protest against granite quarrying at Karavaram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Protest against granite quarrying at Karavaram

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: A protest movement is gaining ground in the Karavaram and Nagaroor villages in the Chirayinkeezh taluk against the illegal granite quarrying in the area.

Local people have constituted an action council to resist the unauthorised activity.

Leaders of the Karavaram Paramada Samrakshana Samithi told a press conference here on Monday that the rampant use of explosives and jack hammers was endangering the lives of hundreds of people in the Kallambalam, Nagaroor-Karavaram villages and the Vellaloor area.

They said the dust from the quarries had also created a serious environmental impact.

Nexus alleged

The Samithi alleged that Revenue and police officials were hand in glove with the quarry contractors who had ignored directions from the District Collector and the Munsiff Court to stop the mining activity.

The Samithi leaders, including Odanavattom Vijayaprakash, P.S. Mani, B. Devadas, B. Sajiv and M. Sundaresan, said the granite splinters from the quarries had caused the death of three persons. "Unable to stand the relentless noise pollution and the threat to their lives, several families have left their homes and relocated to other places," they said, urging the Government to take steps to check the illegal activity.

They warned that the Samithi would launch an indefinite agitation if the Government turned a deaf ear to their plea.

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