Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Villagers petition district administration

ERODE: Residents of Tulakkampalayam village in Paniampalli Panchayat, Chennimalai Union, fear burying the dead in the village graveyard.

They say that stones flying from explosions from a quarry in the neighbourhood keep them away from the graveyard. “Once, we abandoned a body in the graveyard for a while and returned later to bury, as without notice explosives were set off and stones started flying," says a villager, who along with many others turned up at the Collectorate on Monday to petition the district administration.

The villagers say, "We are not aware when the quarry managers fire explosives, and that is keeping us on tenterhooks to the extent that we are unable to have a free access to our graveyard."

They also say that they are unable to graze cattle as the explosions trigger panic in the cattle, which flee. Also, the dust from the quarry covers grass and shrubs, making it difficult for cattle to find clean fodder. “Not only that," another villager says “falling stones have killed cattle as well."

That apart, the villagers say they are not able to use the Paniampalli Tulakkampalayam road, which is close to the quarry. “Students from the neighbouring villagers take the road to reach the panchayat union elementary school at Paniampalli. Now, because of the flying stones, we are forced to take our children on a circuitous route."

Alleging that the quarry managers do not either announce the timing of explosion or warn of one, the petitioners say the villagers are put to constant worry about their house, cattle and livelihood.

In the petition they have urged the district administration to ensure villagers’ safety and take stringent action against the “erring" quarry management.

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