Coimbatore District Collector Pavan Kumar IAS reportedly cancelled the licence of a controversial stone quarry that was operating in No. 10 Muthur Village of Kinathukadavu Taluk. A source said the cancellation of licence is temporary and the collector has also ordered officials to further inspect the concerned quarry extensively via drones.
This action comes after a recent field inspection by officials from the Mines and Minerals Department, Revenue Department and the Coimbatore District Police, and also due to the repeated petitions filed by a local farmer named Muruganandham, who went on an indefinite hunger strike seeking action against the quarry operators over alleged violations.
According to Satishkumar, Legal State Secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association, the government gave permission to a private entity to run the quarry in No. 10 Muthur Village. He alleged that several irregularities took place at the quarry including lack of safety for the quarry staff and extraction of minerals beyond the prescribed limits.
As such actions not only affect those working in the quarry but the houses, agriculture lands nearby and environment too, a local farmer named Muruganandham had been protesting against the quarry’s operation for long. Satishkumar claimed that Muruganandham had submitted 100+ petitions in the last 5 years but that did not move the govt machinery to take appropriate action.
Satishkumar reportedly said that even after meeting the Minister for Natural Resources T.K.Prabhu in Chennai on July 2nd, and getting assurance from him that action will follow in 2 weeks, things did not move as expected in Coimbatore. Muruganandham decided to go on an indefinite hunger strike on July 21st. He did so for 7 straight days, and the matter reached the ears of officials in Chennai resulting in the inspection.
On Monday, the licence of the quarry was cancelled. Further inspection will be made at the quarry.
