Thiruvananthapuram: The 2018 floods that brought to mind the ecological destruction in the hilly areas of the state should have been an eye-opener for the government, but figures show that at least 223 new mine permits have been issued after the devastating disaster.
According to data presented by former Industries Minister EP Jayarajan in the Assembly on October 29, 2019, 223 new mine permits were granted in the state since January 1, 2019.
These include 47 in Ernakulam, 35 in Palakkad, 32 in Malappuram, 23 each in Kozhikode and Kannur, 16 in Pathanamthitta, 15 in Thiruvananthapuram, 12 in Kollam, nine in Kottayam, six in Thrissur, two each in Idukki and Kasaragod. Huh. One in Wayanad.
Presently 586 authorized mines are operational in the state. 436 applications for quarry permits have been put on hold after the Green Tribunal ordered a 200-metre buffer zone for each mine.
According to government sources, hundreds of unauthorized mines are functioning despite the court’s intervention.
The government’s statements in the assembly also make it clear that though many applications are pending and permits of several mines have been cancelled, there is no shortage of construction material in the state.
A report by a committee of experts set up to investigate the causes of heavy rainfall, floods and landslides had found quarrying as a major contributing factor to indiscriminate changes in land use patterns and recurring natural hazards.
The report pointed to a close relationship between hard rock excavation and slope failures in the form of landslides. The committee had recommended a ban on quarrying and mining activities in high landslide prone areas and enforcement of rules in less landslide prone areas.
Data from the Department of Mines and Geology shows that the state mined 35.33 million tonnes of granite in the year 2018-19, which is the highest ever. Along with other minor minerals, it received Rs 171.28 crore to the government — an increase of 12.7% over the previous year.
To bring some control over illegal mines, the then Director of Mines and Geology Department, K Biju wrote to the district police chiefs to book illegal mines under Section 9B of the Explosives Act, 1884. Although the Department of Mines and Geology, the nodal agency for grant of quarry licenses, is also engaged in detecting illegal quarrying, its intervention is limited as it does not have sufficient manpower resources to check illegal activity.
According to data presented by former Industries Minister EP Jayarajan in the Assembly on October 29, 2019, 223 new mine permits were granted in the state since January 1, 2019.
These include 47 in Ernakulam, 35 in Palakkad, 32 in Malappuram, 23 each in Kozhikode and Kannur, 16 in Pathanamthitta, 15 in Thiruvananthapuram, 12 in Kollam, nine in Kottayam, six in Thrissur, two each in Idukki and Kasaragod. Huh. One in Wayanad.
Presently 586 authorized mines are operational in the state. 436 applications for quarry permits have been put on hold after the Green Tribunal ordered a 200-metre buffer zone for each mine.
According to government sources, hundreds of unauthorized mines are functioning despite the court’s intervention.
The government’s statements in the assembly also make it clear that though many applications are pending and permits of several mines have been cancelled, there is no shortage of construction material in the state.
A report by a committee of experts set up to investigate the causes of heavy rainfall, floods and landslides had found quarrying as a major contributing factor to indiscriminate changes in land use patterns and recurring natural hazards.
The report pointed to a close relationship between hard rock excavation and slope failures in the form of landslides. The committee had recommended a ban on quarrying and mining activities in high landslide prone areas and enforcement of rules in less landslide prone areas.
Data from the Department of Mines and Geology shows that the state mined 35.33 million tonnes of granite in the year 2018-19, which is the highest ever. Along with other minor minerals, it received Rs 171.28 crore to the government — an increase of 12.7% over the previous year.
To bring some control over illegal mines, the then Director of Mines and Geology Department, K Biju wrote to the district police chiefs to book illegal mines under Section 9B of the Explosives Act, 1884. Although the Department of Mines and Geology, the nodal agency for grant of quarry licenses, is also engaged in detecting illegal quarrying, its intervention is limited as it does not have sufficient manpower resources to check illegal activity.
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